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A House Divided

2000, Movie, R, 101 mins

A House Divided: Review

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The flawed protagonists of this fact-based, made-for-television docudrama not only live out their individual tragedies but also serve to represent the shifting tides of history. In the aftermath of the Civil War, fledgling lawyer Charles Dubose (Tim Daly) pleads the case of Amanda Dickson (Jennifer Beals), the daughter of plantation owner David Dickson (Sam Waterston) and slave Julia Simms (Lisa Gay Harding). Will the Caucasian establishment deny Amanda her deceased father's bequest? In flashback, the relationship between Master David and Julia unfolds; though he initially regards her as his sexual property, David is later impressed with her book learning and promotes Julia to a privileged position in his household. Amanda, the daughter she secretly bears him, passes for white. But her idyllic existence is shattered when a suitor discovers the truth about her heritage. Now Amanda must somehow find the inner resources to challenge the bigoted status quo and come to terms with her own identity issues. Based on Kent Anderson Leslie's Woman of Color, Daughter of Privilege: Amanda Dickson, the film's flashback sequences are its strong suit; the courtroom debates meander and have the feel of canned history. Paris Qualles's intelligently fashioned teleplay features dual conflicts — Amanda's plea for her inheritance is juxtaposed with Dubose's risking his career for her unpopular cause — and offers a glimpse into the complex day-to-day relationships between slave owners and slaves. The scenes detailing David's stormy relationship with Julia, a association that begins with sexual force and ends with mutual affinity, are emotionally resonant and suggest the way in which a forbidden love could erode some of the systemic intolerance inherent in the "peculiar institution" of slavery. leave a comment --Robert Pardi
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