GOSPEL HILL

US, 2009, 99 minutes, Colour.
Danny Glover, Angela Bassett, Samuel L. Jackson, Julia Stiles, Giancarlo Esposito, Tom Bower, Adam Baldwin, Taylor Kitsch, Nia Long, RZA.
Directed by Giancarlo Esposito.

Gospel Hill is the section of a town in South Carolina with long traditions for the black African community. It is under threat by a consortium who want to destroy it and turn it into a golf course. The consortium is unscrupulous in its use of law and its use of violence.

However, the town has a history of a martyr for the civil rights movement. He is played in black and white flashbacks by Samuel L. Jackson and is able to mouth a great deal of the experience and words of Martin Luther King. In the present, his son, played by Danny Glover, is a rather quiet man who does not want to be interviewed or participate in the fortieth anniversary celebrations for his father’s death. On the other hand, his wife is a teacher at the local school and actively involved in social concerns, especially against the destruction of Gospel Hill.

The film has a strong cast including Giancarlo Esposito himself as a doctor, throwing in his lot with the developers. Julia Stiles is a teacher who has come to town, takes up with the younger son of the sheriff who had to arrest the civil rights activist in the past. Taylor Kitsch portrays the son, Adam Baldwin his lawyer brother, satisfied with life but having an affair with the wife of the doctor (Nia Long). The lawyer has a crucial contribution at the end of the film.

The film focuses on the sheriff, his terminal illness, the fact that he never revealed who the murderer was. His sons are despised in the town because of his action. He is finally challenged by the son of the civil rights martyr and the audience gets to know who the killer is, a nondescript person who is on his last days of life.

The film is interesting, perhaps too many threads and too many subplots to deal with in the one film. However, they are always interesting. The film is a reminder of other films about difficulties and violence with civil rights in the 1960s including Mississippi Burning, Murder in Mississippi, Ghosts of Mississippi as well as the films about George Wallace, governor of Alabama.

1. The 21st century, racism in the American South? The past, the consequences? The present?

2. The town of Julia, South Carolina, in the countryside, small and ordinary, homes, the business centre, restaurants, church, school? The authentic feel?

3. The musical score, the spirit of the South, African Americans, religious and gospel music?

4. The strong cast, the work of Giancarlo Esposito, direction and acting? His perspective?

5. The range of characters, the introduction to the characters, the complex stories and subplots, interweaving? Drawing audience interest?

6. The presentation of the 1960s, black and white photography, like newsreel and television footage? The role of Paul Malcolm, his story, civil rights in the 60s, Martin Luther King, the assassinations of 1968? The developers in the 60s, the banks, his taking a stand, his being interviewed by the media, his praise of his son? The sheriff, Malcolm’s death, bleeding to death? Abandoned? The mystery never solved?

7. John Malcolm, forty years later, having lived in the shadow of his father, hurt, the mystery unsolved, his wanting some kind of closure? His work in the garage, slow, unassuming? Martha and her love for him, different personality? Martha and the school, helping Rosie with the bullied child? Rosie and her questions? Martha and the town meetings, the challenge to the developers? John and his visit to the sheriff, his meeting the killer, the issue of the gun? His not using it? Not wanting retaliation? The return home, putting on the suit, going to the celebration, his moving speech, some kind of resolution and closure for himself, for the town, for Martha? Her pride in him?

8. Martha and John, their marriage, Martha’s efficiency, at home, urging John to activity, at school, the little girl being bullied as a Zebra Girl, mixed race? Meeting Rosie, the protests and the meetings, the petitions, the final threats? The threat to Martha’s life? The doctor warning John?

9. The introduction to the sheriff, going to the doctor, his terminal illness, age, smoking? His sitting on his porch, living with the past? His management of the company, firing Luther? Luther driving past and giving the finger? His concern for Carl? His concern for Joel? Carl and his education and his father giving in to him, his favouring Joel? The challenge by Carl, slapping him, the embrace? John’s arrival, his taking him to visit the killer, his gaining some kind of peach?

10. Carl, easygoing, satisfied with life, the lawyer, Joel and the documents, his affair with the doctor’s wife, breaking it, the challenge to his father, the father challenging his son, going to the meeting, providing the legal information about the developers, his contribution at the end? At the celebration for Paul Malcolm?

11. Joel, the younger brother, his relationship with his father, being judged because of his father? His starting up his own firm, landscaping, the accident with his hand, going to the doctor? Doctor Palmer giving him jobs, financial help? His being interviewed by Lonnie, Lonnie wanting a job, his being unwilling – but later relenting and offering him work? Lonnie and his family, the difficulties for working with Joel because of his father? His meeting Rosie, their clicking, going out, the relationship, her blunt questions about his father, the effect, the confrontation?

12. Doctor Palmer, at the meetings, with the developers, the prosperity for the golf course? His skill in buying up properties, phone calls and deals? His wife and her glamour, society, her deceiving him? At work? His warning John about Martha? The meetings with Joel, the plans? His finally looking at himself in the glass, his vanity, his reaction to the threats, his doing the right thing?

13. The developers, the company, the golf course, moving the people from Gospel Hill, no respect for people, money-oriented? Their meetings, bravado, presumptuous? The meeting, Carl and his influence on the vote?

14. The people of Gospel Hill, their concerns, the traditions, the possibilities for money? Change?

15. The final ceremony, the music, the people gathering, the carnival atmosphere, the tribute to Paul Malcolm? His achievement? John and his speech, the other characters being present at the end? A transition from the past to the present?