Soul Food (1997)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

George Tillman Jr.

Writer (WGA):

George Tillman Jr. (written by)

Release Date:

26 September 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A story of the people who make us strong and the recipe that makes us a family.

Plot:

Matriarch Mama Joe has held her family together for 40 years around a Sunday dinner of soul food. When diabetes hospitalizes her...

Plot Keywords:

Sister | African | Terminal Illness | Discrimination | Unemployment

Awards:

6 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Vanessa Williams	...	Teri (as Vanessa L. Williams)
Vivica A. Fox	...	Maxine
Nia Long	...	Robin
Michael Beach	...	Miles
Mekhi Phifer	...	Lem
Brandon Hammond	...	Ahmad
Jeffrey D. Sams	...	Kenny
Gina Ravera	...	Faith
Irma P. Hall	...	Mother Joe
Carl Wright	...	Reverend Williams
Mel Jackson	...	Simuel
Morgan Méchelle Smith	...	Kelly
John M. Watson Sr.	...	Uncle Pete
M.T. Alexander	...	Jada
Lawrence Petty	...	Harome

MPAA:

Rated R for some strong sexuality and language.

Runtime:

114 min | Argentina:115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Iceland:L | Australia:MA | Spain:13 | USA:R | Germany:6 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Edmonds Entertainment Group (EEG)

Trivia:

Mekhi Phifer, who played Lem, was at one point married to Malinda Williams, who plays Bird in the cable series.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the beginning of the scene for the Sunday dinner that Ahmad arranged, there is a pitcher of grape or purple Kool-Aid. When the meal starts, the glasses are filled with a red drink.

Quotes:

Maxine: Ahmad, what are you doin' in the ladies' bathroom?
Ahmad: Yo Bird! Big Mama said to bring yo' black ass out there!
Maxine: Boy, Big Mama told nobody's black ass to go nowhere!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Boondocks: The Itis (#1.10)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Baby I

So True Its Scary

When I first saw this film it reminded me so much of my family I actually got nervous. The story depicted in this film is so true especially in many Black families, especially mine. The story is pretty much about how a family breaks up after the matriarch becomes ill and eventually dies causing rifts to develop due to the fact that the one person who keeps the family grounded is no longer around to mediate disputes and to show love and guidance to the younger generation. This is definitely a wonderful film that should be viewed by every family no matter what race they are.