American Violet

2008 Drama

Nicole Beharie, Tim Blake Nelson, Will Patton, and Xzibit headline this fact-based drama about an innocent Texas mother caught up in a high-profile drug raid, and unjustly accused due to the uncorroborated testimony of a single informant. Dee Roberts (Beharie) is a young single mother of four living in a small Texas town. Arrested during a drug raid and accused of a crime she didn't commit, Dee goes against the wishes of her mother, Alma (Alfre Woodard), and rejects the plea-bargain that would free her from jail, but brand her as a felon for life. As word begins to spread that similar incidents are occurring in poor communities all across the country, Dee realizes that there are more mothers out there like her, and decides to take a stand against powerful district attorney Calvin Beckett (Michael O'Keefe). Now, despite being well aware of District Attorney Beckett's fierce reputation, Dee enlists the aid of ACLU attorney David Cohen (Nelson) and former narcotics officer Sam Conroy (Patton) in overcoming the seemingly insurmountable obstacles that, if not navigated with the greatest of caution, now threaten to destroy her life. With the custody of her children on the line, one brave mother wages a valiant battle to strike at the very heart of the corrupt Texas justice system. more..

Director: Tim Disney

Starring: Nicole Beharie, Alfre Woodard,Michael O'Keefe,Tim Blake Nelson, Will Patton

Reviews

  • An artlessly powerful performance by newcomer Nicole Behaire anchors American Violet.

    Lisa Schwarzbaum - Entertainment Weekly

    29 November 2012

  • American Violet, it's true, is not blazingly original cinema. Tim Disney's direction and the screenplay by Bill Haney are meat and potatoes, making this story clear, direct and righteous.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    29 November 2012

  • An ideal movie for an ideal time in America.

    Jonathan Curiel - The San Francisco Chronicle

    29 November 2012

  • What sticks in my craw -- just a bit -- is the way the film doesn't fully trust the true story's inherent power.

    Michael O'Sullivan - The Washington Post

    29 November 2012

  • The narrative is infused with chilling facts, and the filmmakers know how to build their case, but a drama demands more. We should have been immersed in Dee's wrenching journey, not just sitting it out on the sidelines.

    - Los Angeles Times

    29 November 2012

Awards

  • Best Actress

    Black Reel Awards (2010)

     
  • Outstanding Independent Motion Picture

    Image Awards (2010)