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A Lesson Before Dying

Play trailer Poster for A Lesson Before Dying PG-13,  1999,  1h 41m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 80% 5 Reviews Tomatometer 77% 250+ Ratings Popcornmeter
80% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Grant Wiggins (Don Cheadle) is an African-American schoolteacher in the pre-Civil Rights Movement South who feels conflicted about his status as one of the few educated black men in his area. When Grant learns of Jefferson (Mekhi Phifer), a young black man falsely accused of killing a white shop owner, he reluctantly visits the condemned prisoner. Gradually, the two form a friendship, and Grant tries to remind Jefferson of his value as a human being.

Critics Reviews

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John Leonard New York Magazine/Vulture Feb 5, 2018
The remarkable Cheadle, stuck teaching in the same school where he'd first dreamed of escaping from Jim Crow to college, is prevailed on by Cicely Tyson and Irma Hall Go to Full Review
Michael Dequina TheMovieReport.com Jan 12, 2007
3.5/4
This riveting drama stands far above most straight-to-tube efforts; in fact, its many virtues surpass many films that receive theatrical release. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jul 7, 2005
2/5
Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice Mar 27, 2004
3/5
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Jan 1, 2000
B-
What the film lacked was a tension; everything seemed too dry and predictable except for the theme, which was right on the money. Go to Full Review
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A Lesson Before Dying

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Joseph Sargent

Director

Don Cheadle

Grant Wiggins

Cicely Tyson

Tante Lou

Mekhi Phifer

Jefferson

Irma P. Hall

Miss Emma

Brent Jennings

Reverend Ambrose

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A Lesson Before Dying

A Lesson Before Dying (1999) A Lesson Before Dying (1999) A Lesson Before Dying (1999) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Grant Wiggins (Don Cheadle) is an African-American schoolteacher in the pre-Civil Rights Movement South who feels conflicted about his status as one of the few educated black men in his area. When Grant learns of Jefferson (Mekhi Phifer), a young black man falsely accused of killing a white shop owner, he reluctantly visits the condemned prisoner. Gradually, the two form a friendship, and Grant tries to remind Jefferson of his value as a human being.
Director
Joseph Sargent
Producer
Robert Benedetti
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Nov 1, 2001
Runtime
1h 41m
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