Mudbound (2017)
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Two World War II veterans return to the Mississippi Delta to confront the lingering scars of war and systemic racism.
The story
In the Mississippi Delta, white brothers Henry and Jamie McAllan struggle to bury their deceased father during a rainstorm. The story reveals that years prior, Henry was forced to live on a farm with his virulently racist father, Pappy, while the neighboring Jackson family, a black tenant farming family, worked the cotton fields. As World War II begins, Jamie and the Jacksons' eldest son, Ronsel, join the military and experience severe war trauma. Upon returning home, both men find that while they have changed, the Mississippi Delta remains entrenched in poverty and prejudice, forcing the families into complex, often desperate, social and economic interactions.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In the Mississippi Delta, white brothers Henry and Jamie McAllan struggle to bury their deceased father during a rainstorm. The narrative flashes back to the years leading up to World War II, where Henry lived on a farm with his racist father, Pappy, while the neighboring Jackson family, led by Hap and Florence, worked as tenant farmers. During the war, Jamie and Ronsel served in the military, both suffering from severe trauma. Upon returning, Jamie becomes an alcoholic with PTSD, and Ronsel struggles with the pervasive racism of Mississippi. The families are bound by necessity; Florence cares for the McAllan daughters, while Henry offers the Jacksons a mule rental that effectively demotes them to sharecroppers. After Hap breaks his leg, Laura secretly pays for his medical treatment, straining her marriage to Henry. Following the war, Ronsel learns of a child he fathered with a German woman. When Pappy discovers Ronsel's photograph, he ambushes Ronsel with the Ku Klux Klan. Jamie intervenes to save his friend but is also beaten. Forced to choose Ronsel's punishment, Jamie chooses for Ronsel to lose his tongue. Later, Jamie smothers Pappy with a pillow to end his tyranny. The film ends with the Jacksons leaving the farm, and Ronsel reuniting with his family in Europe.
- First release year
- 2017
- Runtime (minutes)
- 134
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Dee Rees
- Writers
- Virgil Williams · screenplay; Dee Rees · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Carey Mulligan; Jason Clarke; Jason Mitchell; Mary J. Blige; Rob Morgan; Jonathan Banks; Garrett Hedlund
- Genres
- historical drama
- Themes
- Racism; PTSD; Class Struggle; War Trauma
- Tone and mood
- Somber; Realistic; Intense
- Premise and plot tags
- Historical Drama; War Drama; Social Drama; Period Piece
- Source material / true-story basis
- 2008 novel Mudbound by Hillary Jordan
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews, earning universal acclaim on Metacritic and a high approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising the performances and the atmospheric depiction of the Mississippi Delta.
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe · Best Supporting Actress · Nomination; Golden Globe · Best Original Song · Nomination; Academy Award · Best Supporting Actress · Nomination; Academy Award · Best Original Song · Nomination; Academy Award · Best Adapted Screenplay · Nomination; Academy Award · Best Cinematography · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The production was impacted by both heat and stormy weather, including a tornado warning.; The film was selected as one of the 100 best movies of the 2010s by The A.V. Club.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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