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Rent Shadrach (1999)

Harvey Keitel and Andy McDowell, light up the screen in this, touching poignant and often humorous, coming of age drama. Both actors agreed without hesitation to their roles in the movie after reading the powerful script and Hollywood legend Keitel revealed unashamedly the fact that the story moved him to tears was instrumental in his decision. Told through the eyes of now adult Paul Whitehurst (Martin Sheen) as he looks back at the summer of his tenth year, and the time he spent with his proud, pragmatic and emotionally explosive Vernon Dabney (Harvey Keitel) and his sassy, loving wife, Trixie (Andie MacDowell). The life of the Dabney's is thrown into turmoil when a 99 year old former slave appears at their home, claiming to be an ancestor, and his right to be buried in the plantation formerly owned by the now penniless Dabneys. In the face of poverty, and bigotry Vernon Dabney is emotionally torn between his long seated hatred, and his moral duty to this fragile but dignified old man. As Paul's story unfolds with gentle comedy and timeless reverence we are afforded an insight into the limitless potential of human compassion that can instruct our lives at any time or place, in this bittersweet tale.