1923 in a town in Florida called Rosewood. Despite the fact that slavery had ended many years before there is still hatred and racism towards African Americans. In this movie, a false claim made by a white woman starts a series of race riots that eventually leads to the mass slaughter of innocent black men, women and children.
Fanny, who has a history of cheating on her husband, has a rendezvous with her lover while her husband is at work. Fanny argues with her lover, who ends up beating her. Aunt Sarah and her granddaughter, Lee Ruth, overhear the argument and the subsequent beating but do not intervene. A distraught Fanny, despairing of explaining her injuries to her husband, leaves her house and calls for help. She then tells several townspeople that she has been beaten by a black man. The white residents readily believe Fanny's claim. Hearing of an escaped black convict named Jesse Hunter, a posse from Sumner and nearby towns goes to Rosewood to investigate. The black residents of Rosewood are quickly targeted by a white mob, including men from out of state and members of the Ku Klux Klan.
What makes this movie so disturbing is that it is based on true events. Ving Rhames, Don Cheadle and Jon Voight are all good as lead characters. Esther Rolle, Elise Neal and many other support actors are all first class.
I would recommend this movie, even though it is difficult to watch at times. It reveals how evil some men can be, but also how strong men and women cope with severe adversity.
Fanny, who has a history of cheating on her husband, has a rendezvous with her lover while her husband is at work. Fanny argues with her lover, who ends up beating her. Aunt Sarah and her granddaughter, Lee Ruth, overhear the argument and the subsequent beating but do not intervene. A distraught Fanny, despairing of explaining her injuries to her husband, leaves her house and calls for help. She then tells several townspeople that she has been beaten by a black man. The white residents readily believe Fanny's claim. Hearing of an escaped black convict named Jesse Hunter, a posse from Sumner and nearby towns goes to Rosewood to investigate. The black residents of Rosewood are quickly targeted by a white mob, including men from out of state and members of the Ku Klux Klan.
What makes this movie so disturbing is that it is based on true events. Ving Rhames, Don Cheadle and Jon Voight are all good as lead characters. Esther Rolle, Elise Neal and many other support actors are all first class.
I would recommend this movie, even though it is difficult to watch at times. It reveals how evil some men can be, but also how strong men and women cope with severe adversity.
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