Burnett’s film explores the ways in which families work (and sometimes spectacularly fail to work) together.
Gideon (Butler) lives in Los Angeles, but still holds dear many of the trappings of his past life in the Deep South. His eldest son is dutiful and respectful, while his youngest son puts the value of money above the value of kin. Into their midst comes a figure from the past, the enigmatic and potentially dangerous Harry (Glover).
Burnett’s writing is at once naturalistic and stylised, containing moments of humour, tenderness and extreme tension. Some of the film’s resolutions are over-simplistic, but the strength of story carries it, creating an intriguing and charismatic potential masterpiece. In a fair world, everyone would know the name Charles Burnett.