Cora Unashamed

Viewers unfamiliar with the Langston Hughs' short story are in for a moving experience with this thoughtful feature film. Not televised since 2000, you can catch it NOW on DVD!

As a white American Male I would seem to be an unlikely admirer of a film centered around a black female domestic worker in Depression-era Iowa. But Regina Taylor had me captivated as Cora, a character we can truly care about! Her charm and understated wit are played masterfully, and this film emerges as another testament to the Triumph of the Human Spirit. Bravo, Regina! And you also, Cherry Jones for your layered performance in counterpoint to Regina's character!

This film again proves that American Television projects can be top-notch if the will and funding are provided. There is so much acting talent in America that we could produce much more entertainment that has significant social substance if we were subsidized by the government Big Time, like the BBC is!

We love the BBC imports, but the cultural exchange should be a Two-Way Street! America Culture has much to offer the world Beyond Blockbuster Car Chases and War! Viva la Public Television!

I was honored with being an extra in the town scene shot in Cambridge, Iowa. I was selected last minute to play the racist grocer and Debra Pratt was an incredible director to work with. Sadly, my close up scene was cut (I learned a year later when it aired. LOL Such is Hollywood.) CCH Pounder was incredible, I crept off to her trailer after being fitted for costume to thank her for a line that changed my life many years ago. She even took a photo of me on set with two other cast members. Pure class! Regina Taylor was amazing...I stood face to face with her and stared I'm her down (or rather, my character did.) This film opener my eyes to a stigma I had not even considered existed in the 193s, and it did it in such a way that EVERYBODY loves Cora! A definite MUST SEE!!!

I haven't read much of the original short story but I saw a user complaining about how they didn't like it because Cora changes. That wasn't something that bothers me, character development makes a film better and if the book didn't have it, it might be one flaw it has. I liked to see Cora becoming more confident and assertive as the film went on, it was a nice change from the quiet, grieving woman she was when her daughter died. She is a strong character with a caring personality and wise words and what really shines is the relationships of the characters and no I'm not talking about the Lizbeth, Arthur, and Jessie connection, they had a really unhealthy and abusive relationship with sweet, innocent Jessie that eventually leads to something really bad, which I won't spoil. Lizbeth was uncaring and too dramatic, such as when she nags her daughter over not performing the poetry right and Arthur doesn't even try to protect Jessie most of the time, he just allows Lizbeth to yell at her and only talks to Lizbeth when she's cries a river.

But Cora's relationship with her daughter, Josie and Jessie was heart-warming and really sweet, it helped Cora grow as a character and cope with her grief of losing her daughter by having a motherly relationship to Jessie. Josie and Jessie also had a beautiful, unique friendship that was cute to see. It's too bad their time together was cut short because Josie dies in the beginning. I know that she had some sort of incurable disease but I felt that if Cora gave her more treatments, she probably could've lived a little longer. Her dying didn't really emotionally impact me. When Jessie had went through something really bad at the end, it's more emotionally impacting because we got to know her for a much longer time. I mean, the beginning of the film was weak and rushed overall.

Overall, this film is a really sweet, inspirational, and charming story. It's too bad it's not that well-known. I just gave it a 7 because the beginning was a bit clunky and because of how much I hate Lizbeth and Arthur.

I have just finished watching Cora Unashamed. I wish I had not waited to see it. I enjoyed it immensely. The best thing about it is the performances of Regina Taylor and Cherry Jones. I have never been so riveted to a screen in all my life and I have viewed a lot of movies. The tension between the two characters was so apparent and the weakness of the father in the family was absolutely disturbing. I commend all the actors in this fine film but most notably, Regina Taylor and Cherry Jones. I look forward to enjoying their future performances.

I caught this movie very, very late one evening. (Our PBS station replays the prime time shows after midnight. Good for sleepless night owls!). I have to say, I was floored by the not only the cast, but the plot and direction as well. It is terse, succint, yet eloquent. Right after the showing there was a mini "promo" on other tele-plays to come. These were all from the same series "American Short Stories" Sadly, these other plays never seemed to have come to fruition. But I was glad this one made it. I highly suggest it. Especially for anyone interested in African American literature, a truly under-appreciated, incredibly important form of American writing.