Product Description

Disney presents a truly inspiring motion picture that accurately captures one of the most historically significant events in the struggle for civil rights. In 1965, during the turbulent early days of the right-to-vote movement, a young Alabama school girl (Jurnee Smollett -- EVE'S BAYOU, JACK) is inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Clifton Powell -- DEEP RISING, WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE) to resist the degradation that her fellow African Americans are suffering. Along with a white seminary student (Mackenzie Astin -- IRON WILL) from the north, and against the ever-increasing threat of racial violence, she promises to do what she can to help Dr. King's efforts. A powerful true story that will both uplift and entertain -- their perseverance and patience ultimately prevail, culminating in the famous civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17839 in DVD
• Brand: SMOLLETT,JURNEE
• Released on: 2004-02-03
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Full Screen, Digital Sound, Surround Sound, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 94 minutes

Amazon.com
It's 1965, segregation is still the order of the day in the South, Martin Luther King Jr. is leading voter-registration drives, and an Alabama schoolgirl gets caught up in the civil rights movement. Based on Sheyann Webb's memoir, this movie effectively serves as a Mississippi Burning for kids. As 11-year-old Sheyann (Eve's Bayou's Jurnee Smollet) learns more about the degradation of her people, so, too, will a whole new generation. But the lesson is far from pleasant. With the exception of earnest seminary student Jonathan Daniels (Mackenzie Astin), a Yankee who's come down South to help register blacks to vote, the white people seem cartoonishly hateful. It's sobering to realize that this behavior really happened and was either sanctioned or ignored by the government. Being forced to guess the number of jellybeans in a jar in order to vote and being gassed and beaten for marching are just some of the indignities Sheyann and her friends endure. Parents should know that two prominent characters are murdered. Inspiring, but a bit brutal, this Disney-produced film is appropriate for kids 7 and up with adult guidance. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Customer Reviews

A Good One to Show in School for MLK Day
"Selma, Lord, Selma" fills an important niche by telling a story of the Civil Rights Movement in a manner that is accessible to upper elementary students (and older). The characters and situations are believable, and the story is told from the perspecive of a young--almost 12 years old--African-American girl who got involved after writing a report on Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

While this film portrays the harshness of the situation, including two deaths, it is not graphic or gratutitous. I personally appreciated the way the non-violent Civil Rights movement of Rev. King and his followers was based on their Christian beliefs. The film is not preachy, but the religious context of the movement is realistically portrayed.

As the school librarian, I will be recommending this video to teachers in our elementary school as an option for the Martin Luther King holiday.

A *TERRIFIC* Disney Flick
This movie starts out a wee bit slow, but stay with it. It is *well* worth it.

"Lord, Selma, Lord" is based on the real life story of two 12 year old girls, Sheyann Webb-Christburg and Rachel West Nelson who were involved in the Civil Rights movment in Selma, Alabama in 1965. (the movie is based, in part, on their memoirs)

The movie's depiction of the Freedom March across the Edmund Pettus Bridge from Selma to Montgomery was incredibly well done. I felt like I already knew a lot about "Bloody Sunday" (March 7, 1965) but this movie portrayed that march in a way that stirred me very deeply.

This movie is a must for anyone with children. The violence is handled in a way suitable for children over 8 years old (in my maternal opinion) and it really brings the civil rights movement down to an individual level. It also did a superior job of showing that civil rights (specifically, the right of all people to vote) came at a great cost.

The end of the movie left me in tears; all the more so as I realized this movie was based on fact. Very stirring and also a good tool for opening up dialogue with your children on the whole topic of civil rights.

Selma, Lord, Selma--- Great Movie
I had watched this movie in school during my history class, we were studying the civil rights movement.And I think that this movie did a great job showing and describing the event. I think that this movie is very inspirational, and it would make you will grateful for what you have. This movie is from the view of an African American little school girl who wanted to take part in the civil rights marches in her community. She was a very brave girl who was very determined to reach the goal of freedom. Other characters in the movie were also very great and very good with their role like the young Reverend in the movie named Jonathon.