Mama Flora's Family (1998)

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Great Film overall

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

With an all star cast, Cicely Tyson deserved at least an Emmy nomination for her performance as Flora Henning Palmer. The other cast members is Mario Van Peebles as her son, William Palmer, Queen Latifah as her granddaughter who has a baby boy and is in need of trouble. What does Grandma Flora do but bring them to her home in Stockton, Tennessee from the big city of Baltimore. She begins to tell her story in flashbacks. There is young Flora played brilliantly by Erika Alexander. Young Flora falls in love with the plantation owner's son who hires Flora to care for his elderly grandmother played memorably by Della Reese. Young Flora realizes that nothing can happen between them and she ends the relationship and he ends her employment. She ends back home in her parents' shack. She gives birth to a baby boy that is ripped from her and given by force to his father. She is forced to leave town or her family would lose their farm. Young Flora falls in love again in a new town in Stockton, Tennessee on the road to Memphis when a railroad conductor suggests she stops in this town along the way. She stays, works, and gets married to cotton picker, Booker Palmer. They have a son and she works for a white woman in town who has a baby. When her husband doesn't get enough for his cotton, he resorts to stealing and he gets murdered for it by a white man who gets away with it. Their son Willie drops out of school and Flora is raising her niece since her sister died. There are unforgettable scenes like the one where Flora tries to write since she was never taught in school or when she is honored by her church who kept her going. I know the film may be stereotypical at times but Cicely rises above the occasion like phoenix. She is a just one of America's brilliant actresses who can take on any role and make it her own completely.

This movie was very touching from start to finish. It is not as powerful as ROOTS of course but then again what movie is? Its a generational story of a woman named Flora who survives the remnants of slavery to the 21 century. She was consider stubborn as a mule. I think that stubbornness is what made her the heartbeat of the family. She had the respect of her family and community. I know that slavery is a heavy stain on American History but it is American History. To understand it you have to see both sides of the story. You don't have to be African American to enjoy this movie. It is an American story of Love,Hatred,Sacrice and Hope. It is a definite must see.

This mini series, also based on a book by Alex Haley as was `Queen', tried to use similar formulas, that is, constructing a long history following the lives of a family over many years. Whereas in `Queen' the result was masterful, here in Mama Flora the inspiration was lacking. Firstly perhaps in the book itself, and most certainly in this TV production. Too much is put in with too much haste over the years, such that the unfolding saga is shallow, superficial, not nearly so authentic as in `Queen'. Full marks for the scenification in the earlier parts of the film, which was prepared with great care, but as the film progressed it seemed to degenerate into a kind of dallasian-forsythian unpalatable mix in the last third of its three hours or so duration. I had hoped for more; but evidently Haley was less inspired with this tale than his near-biographical `Queen', and Peter Werner III is no match for John Erman. Only recommendable for those who have an appetite for these lengthy tales of generations growing up.

My wife and I had no problem sitting through this 3+ hour movie. In fact we could have watched more. It goes to show, they can still make interesting films without nudity and cursing. Wealso went through a half dozen hankies. Tom