Sins of the Father (2002) (TV)

Director:

Robert Dornhelm

Writers (WGA):

Pamela Colloff (magazine article in Texas Monthly)
John Pielmeier (written by)

Release Date:

6 January 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Crime

Tagline:

Some secrets should never be kept.

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Ku Klux Klan | Hate Crime | Hatred | Race Relations | Civil Rights

Awards:

6 nominations

Cast

Tom Sizemore	...	Tom Cherry
Richard Jenkins	...	Bobby Frank Cherry
Brenda Bazinet	...	Virginia Cherry
Lachlan Murdoch	...	Young Tom
Colm Feore	...	Dalton Strong
Ving Rhames	...	Garrick Jones
Jessica Gray Charles	...	Denise McNair
Funmiola Lawson	...	Cynthia Wesley
Aaryn Doyle	...	Carole Robertson
Isys McKoy	...	Mae Collins
Mica Le John	...	Sarah Collins
Kim Roberts	...	Mrs. Wesley
Delores Ettienne	...	Older Woman at Church (as Dolores Ettienne)
Sandi Ross	...	Sunday School Teacher
Ardon Bess	...	Minister at Church

Runtime:

USA:93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Artisan Entertainment

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Triple-X Tom (2005) (V)

Excellent Telefilm

Well made telefilm with strong performances from Tom Sizemore, Richard Jenkins and Brenda Bazinet. The subject matter (Birmingham Church bombing of 1963 that killed four girls) has been told before, but this movie works because Sizemore plays the grown son of Bobby Cherry, the last remaining bomber alive who was still free of justice, and the movie flashes back to when Sizemore was a small child experiencing racism first hand. In the present, haunted by the memories of the day, he decides the only thing he can do to stop the generational perpetuation of racism is to turn his father in and put him away for good. Pielmeier's writing is exemplary and Dornhelm's directing sets the table for compelling drama. A very well made film despite Ving Rhames' over the top performance.