Mississippi Damned (2009)

Mississippi Damned (2009)

TV-MA

Following a legacy of trauma in rural Mississippi

7.0

Movie

English
Drama
2009
FEMALE DIRECTOR, TINA MABRY
Adam Clark, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, D.B. Woodside
120 min

What it's about

Three poor Black kids in rural Mississippi reap the consequences of their family's cycle of abuse, addiction, and violence.

The take

In Tina Mabry’s first full length feature film Mississippi Damned she tells the story of three poor, Black adolescents as they advance into adulthood. The story is mostly centered on Kari Peterson, portrayed by Tessa Thompson, who has fallen witness and victim to violence/abuse since her childhood. As she navigates her trauma while facing poverty and familial issues, we begin to understand the inner machinations of Kari and those who have harmed her.

While Mississippi Damned isn’t particularly easy to digest, I consider it essential. As unflinchingly brutal as this film is, it taught me a lot about trauma and how to navigate my own. With performances as powerful as these, it’s impossible to forget this film.

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