After Dee is arrested and dragged from her workplace in handcuffs, she is told by her court-appointed attorney to take a plea bargain for a crime she did not commit. What if cases like this were to lead to disregard of due process of law at even the highest levels? You may recall the story from the news in 2000. [Full disclosure: I am not a movie reviewer normally, so my apologies if this first attempt at writing a movie review falls short. Dr. Sitawa Kimuna The “American Violet” sparks up a lot of issues that we see today in our society. There are still places in America where barely-disguised racism is not only deeply ingrained in American society, but also runs City Hall. Efforts are now underway to replicate these reforms in other states and at the federal level, and American Violet offers an invaluable vehicle to educate both the public and policymakers on this critical issue. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost? "American Violet" dramatizes Kelly's case, and does so in a way that will leave audiences applauding in their seats - and wondering how much of the film is true. Report Findings Share Significant Societal Impact in Inclusion of Women in Studies During Women's Health Week at 2021 Vivian Pinn Symposium, Getting Away With It: Mads Mikkelsen and Anders Thomas Jensen on Riders of Justice, Sun-Kissed Tension: On the Staying Power of Deray’s La Piscine. Introduction The film “American Violet” presents a major issue that still exists in today’s criminal justice system. I can't. Owing largely to the courage and commitment of Hearne's Regina Kelly -- portrayed in American Violet by Nicole Beharie -- in the aftermath of the case, Texas became the first state in the nation to enact comprehensive reforms of the confidential informant system. It is a stunning performance: She is small, vulnerable, fearful for her children, but damned if she will plead guilty to a crime she did not commit. Tap here to turn on desktop notifications to get the news sent straight to you. Chris Weigant blogs at: ChrisWeigant.com. Some critics have found "American Violet" to be too mainstream, too agenda-driven, too much like made-for-TV, with not enough "suspense." When Alma vows to stay in jail, she attracts the attention of the American Civil Liberties Union, which sends a lawyer named David Cohen (Tim Blake Nelson) down to defend her. Dee sues everyone involved -- up to and including District Attorney "Calvin Beckett" (portrayed by Oscar-nominee Michael O'Keefe) -- claiming racial discrimination led to the drug sweep and mass arrest in which she was caught up. It is, at best, a bad film with an important message. Spinoff series of 'American Horror Story'. American Violet tells Kelly's story from the perspective of "Dee Roberts" (portrayed admirably by Nicole Beharie). They were working on a tip from a single informant, a former mental patient who had good reason to cooperate with them. Racism has not magically disappeared. The story is based on Regina Kelly, a victim of Texas police drug enforcement tactics. Agreeing to the plea bargain (which would leave her with a felony record for selling drugs in a school zone) would immediately return her to her children. As she struggles to stay out of prison with the help of her mother, Alma (Alfre Woodard), Dee exemplifies a stalwart woman who refuses to plead guilty when offered a plea bargain. The absence of appropriate regulations and oversight have allowed the misuse and abuse of confidential informants to become an everyday occurrence in the "War on Drugs," breeding systemic injustice on a national scale. So while American Violet is about as far from the “horror” genre in moviemaking as you can get, audiences may indeed be horrified … The ACLU lawyer is portrayed as a white knight, helping the powerless; but even he shows doubts when Dee asks if any of this will actually do any good. Dee is innocent, her lawyers are putting themselves at risk because of their outrage, and the D.A. Violet is pretty, brutally honest, and does not know life outside the brothel. But consider the story. Then along comes a film like “American Violet,” a disquieting drama based on the true story of a young single mother arrested during what turned out to … “American Violet,” which is based on real events that took place in late 2000, has the quasi-documentary feel of a well-made television drama. But if Dee caves in, she goes free and is reunited with her children. The film exhibits several themes of how the criminal justice system targets low-income individuals of color such as offering plea bargains, having elected judges and … American Violet opens in selected markets across the country this Friday, April 17th, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., Dallas, and Atlanta. The humanity of all the characters (including Xzibit, who appears in the film) is on display, for both the good guys and the bad guys. We made it easy for you to exercise your right to vote. Dee, a young mother of four, who was not found with drugs and had no history of drug use, was arrested primarily because she went outside to drag her little girl to safety. Not Yet Rated 1 hr 43 min Aug 29th, 2008 Drama A young single mother of four living in a small Texas town. That can't happen in Texas anymore. The war is over, and Violet Evergarden needs a job. Based on true events in the midst of the 2000 election, AMERICAN VIOLET tells the astonishing story of Dee Roberts (critically hailed newcomer Nicole Beharie), a 24 year-old African American single mother of four young girls living in a small Texas town who is barely making ends meet on a waitress salary and government subsidies. "American Violet," it's true, is not blazingly original cinema. The movie follows a young African American woman who is a single mother of 4 in a very harsh neighborhood. is Calvin Beckett (Michael O'Keefe), a man of whom it can fairly be said that he has no interest at all in whether the people he has arrested are guilty. So while American Violet is about as far from the "horror" genre in moviemaking as you can get, audiences may indeed be horrified (or perhaps outraged) at the injustice displayed by one district attorney in Texas. The issue I am going to discuss in this critical analysis is Racial Prejudice in the Criminal Justice System. That district attorney? If the movie tries to have fun concealing that, it's jerking our chain. American Violet tells the story of legal injustice and systemic, institutionalized racism -- and the struggle to overcome such prejudice. American Violet is not a “horror movie.”. American Violet is a 2008 drama film directed by Tim Disney and starring Nicole Beharie. Running time: 102 minutes Studio: Samuel Goldwyn Films. The American Civil Liberties Union has the details of the legal case she brought against the Texas D.A. Film-makers have used absurd horror to tackle race before, like in Timo Vuorensola’s 2012 film Iron Sky, which placed the action on the dark side of … The criminal justice system in America enforces the standard conduct our country finds necessary to protect all of its citizens and lower crime. Watch trailers & learn more. There is also plenty of foul language (some of it strong) that warrants extreme caution. She, along with the others, is offered a plea bargain: If she pleads guilty, she gets probation. She stands firm even as her mother, Alma (Alfre Woodard), begs her to take the plea; Alma argues the harsh racial realities of their town. The actors portraying them in the film do an excellent job of portraying the whole spectrum of these flaws. Worse still, this situation has largely been hidden from public scrutiny -- left to the shadows, it has greatly undermined both the fairness and effectiveness of our criminal justice system. Here’s how. This was the only compensation I received to write this of any form.] Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America; American ancestry, people who self-identify their ancestry as "American"; American English, the set of varieties of the English language native to the United States I know I'll hear complaints from Texans of a certain stripe. She's an honest women with a clean record and there is a hint of racism in the air of the accusing lawyer. American(s) may refer to: American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the United States. The movie “American Violet set in Hearne County Texas, depicts the victimization of innocent second class citizens who are subject to racial bias and police corruption. If that isn't enough reason to go see this film, then go see it because it is an impressive and powerful piece of filmmaking that won't disappoint. 7/24/14. This stuff happens all the time, and is far from rare in Texas, a state with a shameful record of law enforcement practices. The film will be distributed by Samuel Goldwyn. Throughout the movie, news clips are shown in the background which chronicle the election (and aftermath) between Al Gore and George W. Bush, just to remind us that this is not some story from the 1960s-era, but that this sort of thing still happens all too often in today's America. was conducting military type drug raids on low income housing units that targeted the African American population, and this was no coincidence. Based on true events that took place in 2000, it has … Alfre Woodard in attack mode is formidable; Tim Blake Nelson underplays as a determined, methodical lawyer, not a showboat, and Will Patton in some ways steals the show as a good man who has done bad in the past, knows it and is trying to make up. for thematic material, violence, drug references and language, WHAM! A defendant who pleads guilty cannot continue to live in public housing and will always have a felony on the record. The underlying message of the film is an important one. Just people. Rated PG-13 for profanity, ethnic slurs, violence, drug references and mature themes. American Violet holds a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 59 reviews, with an average rating of 6.69/10. It has no monsters, zombies, or mass murderers in it. But the movie’s powerful message on the role racism plays in the Drug War will likely horrify you just the same. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. Along the way, American Violet dramatizes the effects of the accusations on her children and community and makes numerous statements about the number (greater than 90%, according to the film… A guilty plea helps the district attorney build up a record as a crime fighter, even though he is the one who has committed the crime. In some time, Violet 's virginity is auctioned off and she is expected to become a prostitute, like her mother. The alternative: risk serving 16-to-25 in jail. Falsely accused of distributing narcotics in a school zone, Dee Roberts (Beharie) is offered a deal she can't refuse: plead guilty and accept a 10-year suspended sentence. Summary: Based on true events during the 2000 election, American Violet tells the astonishing story of Dee Roberts, a 24 year-old African American single mother of four young girls living in a small Texas town tow is barely able to make ends meet. It is a stunning performance: She is small, vulnerable, fearful for her children, but damned if she will plead guilty to a crime she did not commit. Note to Teachers: For a Post-Viewing Enrichment Worksheet for AP or honors classes see American Violet Supplemental Materials . Mark Osler-Wikipedia. American Violet is a movie with a powerful theme on the role of racism in the war against drugs. However, falling in love with a photographer, who is always present in a brothel and takes picture of prostitutes, she runs away from the brothel to his house. American Violet. But this outrage only serves to make her more human, since it is always provoked in defense of her four small children. "American Violet" details a true-life story of a fight against institutional racial prejudice that took place in Texas not very long ago. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. It will open in Boston, Philadelphia, Seattle, Houston, and San Francisco on May 1st. And now the stage is set for a docudrama that may have an outcome we already know, but is a loud lesson about truth, justice and the Texas Way. Kelly's website (www.reginakelly.com) is one of the best places to get information and links, or you can watch and listen to Kelly tell her own story on YouTube. Which is the whole point. American Violet is a story of one woman fighting back against such a system, with the help of the ACLU. This is all based on an actual case (the names have been changed). Texas has become the first state to require that confidential informants must be corroborated. 05/16/2009 05:12 am ET Updated May 25, 2011. They know all they want about the ACLU from their favorite broadcasters. Directed by Tim Disney and written by Bill Haney, the film stars Alfre Woodard, Will Patton and Tim Blake Nelson. Arrested during a drug raid and accused of a … Her snaky ex-husband has snatched his kids and moved them in with his new girlfriend, who has a history of child abuse. Mr Tab the 3rd. There are no monsters in the film, as I said before, only people. Created by Ryan Murphy. This film is a fact-based account of a young African-American mother arrested in a racially motivated drug sweep by a Texas County District Attorney. The case proved a rare catalyst for deeply needed reform of a deeply entrenched injustice, and, with some luck, the film could do the same. Without spoiling the ending, American Violet is an excellent movie, and tells the story in a moving and heart-wrenching fashion. But by doing so, she will be barred from any federal assistance in the future, such as food stamps or federal housing. She faces a no-win situation. "American Violet" stars Nicole Beharie, a recent Juilliard graduate in her second role, as Dee Roberts. It has no monsters, zombies, or mass murderers in it. "American Violet" is clear about the motivation for such raids with little or no evidence. Hearne county, a small town run by a corrupt D. A. was conducting military type drug raids on low income housing units that targeted the African American population, and this was no coincidence. I wish I could convince ... hell, never mind. Because he needs a local partner, he persuades the lawyer Sam Conroy (Will Patton), a former D.A., to join him; Sam refuses at first, but agrees out of guilt because he knows full well how the system works. (Regina Kelly v. John Paschall) on their site, for those who are interested in the underlying case the movie is based upon. American Violet is about a single mother of four, Dee Roberts (Nicole Beharie), who is wrongly convicted of drug charges due to police racism and corruption. She refuses to plead guilty. ©2021 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Barack Obama may now be president, but this has not instantly transformed America into some post-racial utopia overnight. Film … ...The movie “American Violet set in Hearne County Texas, depicts the victimization of innocent second class citizens who are subject to racial bias and police corruption. These people are flawed in various ways, as are we all. American Violet. She gets accused and charged of dealing drugs even though she's innocent. "American Violet," a film based on the racially charged drug war scandal that rocked the town of Hearne, Texas, several years ago, explores the devastating impact of America's "war on drugs". In July, I attended the Community-Oriented Defender Network Conference. While police drag Dee from work in handcuffs, dumping her in the squalor of the women’s county prison, Based on true events during the … AMERICAN VIOLET is an inspiring, moving story that sometimes focuses on the heroine’s Christian faith, though it stays away from any actual evangelism. American Violet Analysis. Rated PG-13 "American Violet" stars Nicole Beharie, a recent Juilliard graduate in her second role, as Dee Roberts. It is not a horror film but still the audience may be outraged due to the injustice portrayed by a Texas district attorney. This impressive new film tells one woman's story of abuse at the hands of a hostile legal system. Her battle with Robertson County District Attorney, John Paschall in Hearne, Texas has been memorialized in the film American Violet; to have her there speaking was like meeting Erin Brockovich … The movie is a fictionalized retelling of the true story of Regina Kelly, of Hearne, Texas. Scarred and emotionless, she takes a job as a letter writer to understand herself and her past. Although several presentations were noteworthy, the passionate keynote address by Regina Kelly is one that stood out. Part of HuffPost Politics. The D.A. Say what? American Violet is not a "horror movie." I was provided with a pre-release review copy of the film to watch, and was told I could keep the DVD. As Beckett, Michael O'Keefe is rock solid as a man who has more important things on his mind than justice. Sign up for membership to become a founding member and help shape HuffPost's next chapter. How would you feel if this happened to you? Today is National Voter Registration Day! What works for me was the strength of the performances, beginning with Nicole Beharie as the convincing heroine. The character of "Professor Joe Fisher" in the film American Violet is based on Osler, and he appeared as a critic of narcotics policy in the 2013 National Geographic series "The 80's," and as a commentator in the 2014 National Geographic series "The Jesus Mysteries." The film does not shy away from portraying Dee as a flawed character, who is occasionally prone to bursts of outrage. She was arrested because of one drug-addicted, mentally ill informant who lied and did nothing to check the truth of what he was saying. They won't see this film. How would it look in an election year if he went around dropping drug charges? (336) IMDb 7.0 1 h 42 min 2009 PG-13. These issues are very important as they deal with equality among our citizens but they may often be overlooked. The cops in a small Texas town arrested 40 black people on drug charges in a sweep of a public housing complex. For different reasons, it evokes such past films as Erin Brockovich, Mississippi Burning, and the works of Sidney Poitier in the Civil Rights era. In Hearne, however, we witnessed the rare instance when such scandalous law enforcement conduct is exposed to the light of day. She resists pressure to agree to a plea bargain. With considerable risk to her own future, Dee becomes the plaintiff in a class-action test case championed by ACLU attorney "David Cohen" (played by Tim Blake Nelson). The movie occasionally intercuts commercials from the Gore-Bush campaign then under way, to no particular purpose, except to remind me that as Texas governor, Bush commuted the sentence of only one of the 152 people put on Death Row under his reign, even though public defenders presented no defense at all for 41 of them and a third of their defense attorneys were later disbarred or sanctioned. Still in office. The movie “American Violet set in Hearne County Texas, depicts the victimization of innocent second class citizens who are subject to racial bias and police corruption. The film “American Violet” was based on the true story of the civil rights lawsuit Regina Kelly v. John Paschall (Weigant, 2009). Hearne county, a small town run by a corrupt D.A. is a heartless scofflaw. One big difference from these earlier films, however, is that the events which inspired American Violet happened in the year 2000. Tim Disney's direction and the screenplay by Bill Haney are meat and potatoes, making this story clear, direct and righteous. Chris Weigant is a political commentator. This sort of thing does indeed still happen in America. Just people. Further information on theaters showing the film should be available on either the film's website, www.americanviolet.com, or on Regina Kelly's own website. The acting is awfully good, although the movie sometimes plays like a television movie. 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