John is a man of many talents, including one forbidden skill: he can read. When he teaches a young slave girl named Sarny to read and write, she learns an unforgettable lesson about the power of words and the true meaning of freedom.
Acting
Carl Lumbly's weary dignity anchors every scene.
Direction
Burnett refuses to sanitize or spectacle-ize suffering.
Writing
Dialogue that understands silence speaks louder than speeches.
Director
Charles Burnett
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