PurpleX’D

Words by C. Daniel

American Violet (Image Entertainment, 2009)

American Violet

Directed by Tim Disney

Produced and Written by Bill Haney

Image Entertainment

2009 (PG-13); Color – Approx. 103 min.

This just goes to show you how fucked up the world can be.

How horrifying is it to watch a hard-working waitress, an early 20s single mother of four living in the projects in a rural socially claustrophobic town (Melody, TX just as a reference), get arrested for allegedly selling drugs in a school zone? The odds seem totally against her; she is offered a bullshit deal to plead guilty and take a long prison sentence after the police comes on her job and arrests her. It’s a crime she didn’t commit. Do I have your attention?

This is American Violet. Based on a true story, the drama tells the story of Dee Roberts (played by Nicole Beharie), who goes against the grain and fights the law when excessive, unconstitutional force is inflicted upon numerous people courtesy of bigoted District Attorney Calvin Beckett (Oscar nominated Michael O’Keefe). It’s the height of local and presidential elections, so there are serious tensions. It’s quite disgusting to see black people violated to the point where their civil right to survive is jeopardize. Shit, police lead raids; the courts hand out outstanding bails ($70,000 in this case); falsify (and lose) evidence and cause people to lose their homes. Dee challenges it all: being denied employment; fighting a custody battle against her ex, Darnell (rap artist Xzibit) and proving that racism is a motive in her incarceration.

Shit sounds fucked up, doesn’t it? Such a crime for corrupt governments and venomous political influences can really trickle down upon economically strapped, socially disenfranchised people. Freedom becomes questionable – the law wants to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law (we talking 16 to 25 years here). I should hope you’re probably squirming, but that’s the beauty of the film; it doesn’t let any race or class of people off the hook.

Not to worry; justice gets served. American Violet is a critical yet entertaining morality play, edited with news sequences of the 2000 Gore/Bush presidential campaign and some top quality acting. The film suggests that a little faith and courage can get you through anything. Make no mistake; it doesn’t happen overnight. Hell, even the film spans from Nov. 2000 to May 2001. With a little help, Dee gets the support: first from her mother, Alma (played by Oscar-nominated actress Alfre Woodard); followed by her church and minister, Rev. Sanders (Charles S. Dutton); ethically charged American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) attorneys David Cohen (Tim Blake Nelson) and Byron Hill (Malcolm Barrett) and drug trafficking force member turned attorney Sam Conroy (Will Patton).

The Telluride Film Festival favorite gets intimate; showing director Tim Disney on the panel with Beharie and the real Roberts. Much like she’s portrayed in the film, Dee is a woman of great strength. It’s special to see someone not liking the way that people are treated and actually mobilizing themselves to do something about it. American Violet is a cinematic public service announcement that indirectly says to find change if we believe in it hard enough. In the end, it’s all worth it.