Cora Jenkins (Regina Taylor) is the black maid for the Studevant family in Iowa. Her parents were the first coloured people in the town. The film starts in 1916, with the birth of Cora's daughter Josephine (Tinashe Kachungwe), whose white father, a poet and political activist, was forced to flee before the birth. The time moves to 1921 and Josephine and the Studevants' daughter, Jessie, are the best of friends. Mrs. Studevant, Lizbeth (Cherry Jones), is a social-climbing bigot who can be quite charming with "inferiors" as long as they keep their place. Lizbeth is overly harsh with Jessie, whose father, Arthur (Michael Gaston), obviously feels that to be true but is too weak to stand up to his wife, whom he adores. Cora occasionally suggest things very tactfully to Lizbeth but, because of her position, she cannot do anything more forceful. Cora wants only good but has not the power to cause but only to influence. In this, she shows more courage than Arthur. The time shifts and Jessie (now Ellen Muth) is 18 and about to go to a dance with Willie Matsoulis (Ben Easter), whom Arthur likes and whom Lizbeth thinks of as "a Greek" and, therefore, an inferior. Jessie and Willie fall madly in love. When Jessie becomes pregnant, everything falls apart. Cora, who is totally aware of the whole situation, is asked by Jessie to intervene. I can say no more about the story without revealing too much.
The film is a wonderful character study but there is little personal growth. The acting is consistently excellent: far above the quality of most TV movies. The story is tragic but very touching.
THERE ARE SPOILERS, AFTER THIS, FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO READ THEM.
***** SPOILERS *****
Cora's daughter, Josphine, died suddenly, at the age of five, of an illness.
Willie and Arthur are both away when Jessie asks Cora to tell Lizbeth about the pregnancy. Lizbeth takes Jessie to the city, ostensibly for shopping, but actually for an abortion. When they return, Jessie is not well. Lizbeth refuses to allow Willie to see Jessie, who could tell him about what actually happened. When Jessie dies, of an infection caused by the abortion, Cora can no longer remain silent about Lizbeth's treatment of Jessie. At the funeral, in a very moving scene, Cora confronts Lizbeth, in front of all the family and friends, with the truth: Lizbeth has killed not only the baby, but Jessie too. When two men try to drag Cora out, Arthur, who did not know about the abortion, finally discovers some courage, intervenes and orders them to release Cora. Cora leaves on her own volition and feels great for having done the right thing.
The film is a wonderful character study but there is little personal growth. The acting is consistently excellent: far above the quality of most TV movies. The story is tragic but very touching.
THERE ARE SPOILERS, AFTER THIS, FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO READ THEM.
***** SPOILERS *****
Cora's daughter, Josphine, died suddenly, at the age of five, of an illness.
Willie and Arthur are both away when Jessie asks Cora to tell Lizbeth about the pregnancy. Lizbeth takes Jessie to the city, ostensibly for shopping, but actually for an abortion. When they return, Jessie is not well. Lizbeth refuses to allow Willie to see Jessie, who could tell him about what actually happened. When Jessie dies, of an infection caused by the abortion, Cora can no longer remain silent about Lizbeth's treatment of Jessie. At the funeral, in a very moving scene, Cora confronts Lizbeth, in front of all the family and friends, with the truth: Lizbeth has killed not only the baby, but Jessie too. When two men try to drag Cora out, Arthur, who did not know about the abortion, finally discovers some courage, intervenes and orders them to release Cora. Cora leaves on her own volition and feels great for having done the right thing.