Mississippi Burning (UK)

1964. When America was at war with itself
Certificate: 18
Running Time: 127 mins
Retail Price: £15.99
Release Date:
Content Type: Movie

Synopsis:
Mississippi in 1964 is ready to burn. Three young Civil Rights workers, James Chaney, Andre Goodman and Mickey Schwerner, are murdered on their way back home after trying to help blacks register to vote. The bodies disappear. The smoldering embers of racial hatred now explode into violent flames.
Two FBI agents are called in to investigate the murders. Rupert Anderson (Gene Hackman) and Alan Ward (Willem Dafoe) are the agents who are sent to investigate the disappearance of the three boys. Anderson was once a Southern sheriff and still has a cynical affection for the South. Ward is a college educated young man inspired by Kennedy`s plea to serve his country. He believes justice will be served, but is naïve as to how to accomplish it.

Academy Award winner Frances McDormand playing the sheriff`s wife, Mrs. Pell, gives a dynamic performance that earned her an Academy Award nomination along with nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for Gene Hackman and Best Editing for Gerry Hambling. Peter Biziou won a well deserved Oscar for his beautiful cinematography on the film. This is an important film, and a controversial film based on true events that show how racism can cause civil men to resort to using their own methods of terror and intimidation to solve the case.

Special Features:
Trailer
Audio Commentary by Director Alan Parker