This acclaimed portrait of the segregated South, circa 1946, emerges as a celebration of the warmth and spirit of the close-knit African American community that thrived despite horrible conditions. Adapted from the autobiographical novel by Clifton L. Taulbert. Winner, "Best Feature Film" at the Worldfest Houston Film Festival.
This film provides a slice-of-life glimpse into black history as it follows a young boy named Cliff growing up in the segregated South.
The story begins in 1946, when Cliff is born. He is initially raised by his great-grandparents, who expose him to such things as a KKK rally to teach him about the racism blacks have to endure. When he's older, Cliff is reared by his great-aunt, and meets liberal whites such as Mrs. Maybry, who, since blacks are prohibited from entering the library, checks books out for them. But despite the omnipresent bigotry Cliff encounters, his life is also filled with rich childhood experiences, such as fishing trips and family picnics. And perhaps best of all, the young man is fortunate enough to be raised in a tight-knit family that finds its strength in unity.
A BET Pictures presentation of a United Image Entertainment production. Director Tim Reid was co-founder of United Image Entertainment.
Color by DeLuxe.
The film cost $2.5 million to make and was shot in 28 days.
Winner of: the Best Feature Film award at the Worldfest Houston Film Festival; the Audience Award for the Most Popular Film at the Hawaii International Film Festival; the Special Jury Prize for Direction in a Feature Debut at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival; and the Audience Choice "Best of the Fest" award at the St. Louis Film Festival.
Shown at the 1996 Palm Springs, Chicago, and Ft. Lauderdale Film Festivals.
Released theatrically in New York City January 26, 1996.
Additional cast: Beatrice Bush (Lurlean).
According to director Tim Reid, his film was rejected by every major Hollywood studio, because its coming-of-age themes were deemed to be "too soft". Says Reid, "The view of us perpetuated by Hollywood and the press is that of a dysfunctional, angry, frustrated populace prone to violence and self-destruction. Along comes a movie that says we are human, that we're compassionate, that we care for our children and our culture. That's [seen as] subversive."
DVD Features:
Region 1 Encoding
Special Features: Scene Access, Theatrical Trailer.
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Review 1:
"...Unexpected simplicity....It does cover some uncharted ground."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.92 09/20/1996
Review 2:
"...A sensitive memory film of the author's coming of age in the segregated South....Rich in incident and character..."
Source: Variety
01/08/1996
Review 3:
"...Rarely has a film more movingly shown how people who work, live and pray together can find a common strength and self-respect....A film that is both an impressive physical production and a deeply moving emotional experience..."
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
p.29 01/26/1997
Review 4:
"...A splendid and virtually unique film....A beautifully wrought film in all its aspects, ONCE UPON A TIME glows with an array of beautiful, selfless performances..."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.F1 01/26/1996
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