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Earl was born with white features, Carrie and Willa Mae agreed that Earl should be raised by Carrie and his biological father. Aunt T gives Earl a picture of Willa Mae, which Earl accepts with pride, as he has begun to accept his new family. Earl convinces Ray to return to their
Arkansas hometown to find their mother's grave. Standing over her grave marker, Earl decides to take Ray to meet his family and tell them their story. Earl jokes that when his bigoted nephew finds out he is part black, Virgil's initial hostility will seem mild.
312:) and their two daughters visit, Earl learns that Virgil's promising career in football was shattered by an injury in college and that Virgil’s resulting bitterness has alienated his family. Taking Virgil aside, Earl tells him an anecdote that highlights that dwelling on his disappointments hurts his wife and children. They begin to develop a grudging respect for each other.
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leaving the city, Earl is beaten up and carjacked by four black street toughs and hospitalized. Finding Ray's information in Earl's pocket, the hospital staff calls Ray, who comes reluctantly. The doctor tells him that Earl may have a concussion and cannot travel for a couple of days. The hospital is full, so Ray must take Earl home to recuperate.
265:), an equipment rental company business owner in a small Arkansas town, receives a shocking letter from his mother, Carrie, on her deathbed. She reveals that Earl's biological mother was actually an African-American maid named Willa Mae, raped by Earl's (white) father, who died giving birth to Earl. Carrie's dying wish is that Earl go to
288:), a surly and hostile city bus driver, doesn't appreciate a white southerner sleeping in his bed, even when Ray explains that Earl is an old war buddy whose life he saved. Aunt T reveals that she knows who Earl really is and later scolds Ray and Virgil for not welcoming a member of their family unconditionally.
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The police find Earl’s truck, bullet-ridden but operational, and Earl is ready to go home. Aunt T recounts to Earl and Ray the dramatic tale of the night Earl was born and Willa Mae died. Earl's life was saved by Carrie, who brought a white doctor to Willa Mae’s shack to help with the delivery. Since
295:
Wandering
Chicago, Earl gets drunk at a bar, where he is tossed out for becoming obnoxiously overfriendly with a black couple in his eagerness to establish a sense of acceptance. He ends up sleeping under a bridge. The next morning, after cooling down, Ray finds Earl under a bridge. Earl apologizes
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Working at city hall as a police officer, Ray reluctantly agrees to meet Earl at a local diner. During lunch, Ray reveals that he knew all along that Earl was his half-brother and that he has hated Earl and his father because Earl's birth killed his mother. Ray wants nothing to do with Earl. Before
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Knowing he is not wanted, Earl leaves Ray's house, walking unknowingly into a bad part of town. At Aunt T's urging, Ray quickly locates Earl on a nearby street, but Earl obstinately refuses to come back. The two argue and end up in an awkward wrestling match, with Earl using the word "nigger,"
42:
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for his rude behavior, and the two begin to settle their differences. They bond as they find similarities between them, both having served in the
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realizing too late that he has gone too far. Angry at Earl's callous words, Ray tells Earl to stay away from him and heads back home.
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The movie received a positive reception. It holds a 73% "Fresh" rating at Rotten
Tomatoes, based on 22 reviews.
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16:1996 American film directed by Richard Pearce
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214:$ 10,125,417
186:Running time
163:Release date
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350:David Keith
190:109 minutes
120:Mark Warner
110:Fred Murphy
82:Brad Wilson
73:Produced by
49:Directed by
739:1996 films
733:Categories
558:Metacritic
501:2013-11-25
470:2012-05-31
444:2012-05-31
413:2012-05-31
383:References
340:as Aunt T.
306:Korean War
211:Box office
174:1996-03-29
137:Production
59:Written by
628:Threshold
620:Heartland
375:Reception
116:Edited by
644:No Mercy
536:AllMovie
495:Archived
438:Archived
407:Archived
370:as Karen
203:Language
126:Music by
87:Starring
19:For the
636:Country
298:Marines
267:Chicago
206:English
195:Country
172: (
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719:(2006)
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687:(1996)
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227:drama
525:IMDb
320:Cast
302:Navy
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