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DIR: TIM DISNEY // 2009

AMERICAN VIOLET

2008 // 103 MIN

After an overzealous district attorney's drug bust lands her in jail, single mother Dee Roberts must face an agonizing choice: Plead guilty and go home a convicted felon, or fight the charges and risk a lengthy prison sentence.

Despite her mother's advice and risking everything, innocent Dee chooses to fight the Texas criminal justice system, joined by an ACLU attorney and a former narcotics cop.

DIRECTED BY

Tim Disney

WRITTEN BY

Bill Haney

PRODUCED BY

Bill Haney

ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS

Debra Longo
Miriam Marcus
Elizabeth O'Keefe

 

EDITED BY

Nancy Richardson
Curtiss Clayton
Terilyn A. Shropshire

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Steve Yedlin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Peter Newman

CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

Jennifer Eplett
Sean Reilly
Tom R. Camp

MUSIC BY

Teddy Castellucci

STARRING 

Nicole Beharie  

Tim Blake Nelson

Will Patton

Alfre Woodard 

Xzibit 

“Three stars. Nicole Beharie delivers a stunning performance."
– Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

“American Violet, which is based on real events that took place in late 2000..is beautifully acted by Ms. Beharie…”
– Stephen Holden, The New York Times

"The performances are persuasive and nuanced, illustrating the many ways people accept injustice — and, occasionally, compensate for past acceptances."
– Mark Jenkins, NPR

“A Powerful Movie about Race and the Drug War… This impressive new film tells one woman’s story of abuse at the hands of a hostile legal system. For different reasons, it evokes such past films as Erin Brockovich, Mississippi Burning, and the works of Sidney Poitier in the Civil Rights era. American Violet tells the story of legal injustice and systemic, institutionalized racism — and the struggle to overcome such prejudice...”
– Chris Weigant, Huffington Post

"American Violet is the first must-see film for African-Americans in 2009."
– Clay Kane, BET

"A gem of a movie. Timely, thought-provoking, passionate, exciting. Everything you look for in a movie experience and more."
– Dr. Joy Browner, WOR Radio

"The film is a rich, vibrant narrative film guaranteed to move everyone who sees it."
– Rex Reed, The New York Observer
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