The Journey of August King (1995)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

John Duigan

Writers:

John Ehle (novel)
John Ehle (written by)

Release Date:

26 January 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The Journey of August King is a multi-dimensional drama about a North Carolina farmer in 1815. August King...

Plot Keywords:

Widower | North Carolina | Farmer | Courage | Rural

Cast

Jason Patric	...	August King
Thandie Newton	...	Annalees
Larry Drake	...	Olaf Singletary
Sam Waterston	...	Mooney Wright
Sarah-Jane Wylde	...	Ida Wright
Eric Mabius	...	Hal Wright
Muse Watson	...	Zimmer
John Doman	...	Bolton
Andy Stahl	...	Harrison (as Andrew Stahl)
Danny Nelson	...	Felix
Collin Wilcox Paxton	...	Mina
Dean Rader-Duval	...	Gabriel (as Dean Rader Duvall)
Billy Ray Reynolds	...	Ben
Marlus Harding	...	Sims (as Marlus C. Harding)
Lisa Roberts Gillan	...	Meg (as Lisa Roberts)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for a scene of shocking violence.

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

North Carolina, USA

Company:

Addis Wechsler Pictures

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Annalees (Thandie Newton) sees her boyfriend hanging upside down, August calls her Thandie.

I couldn't close my eyes.

I stumbled upon this piece of art on my way to bed. 3:39am is not late at all for a film such as this. August King detailed courage and conviction in the most vulnerable way imaginable. Witnessing this man endure all to the benefit of another, under the most trying of circumstances, offered more in cinema than any three films I can immediately recall. Jason Patric has always impressed me, but now has my loyalties as a viewer. This film brings to light the inner struggles of every decision we must make in this life, and our acceptance of the consequences. The "Journey" compels one to ponder whether we do enough for the sake of selflessness. August King risks and loses all to lend a hand in starting life anew for a young runaway slave (mastered by Thandie Newton -- a performance and character not soon forgotten by me). Through every twist and turn, August willingly suffers the sorrows of his devotion to an unpopular cause. He challenges his own convictions to do what instinctively seems right. In the end, his pride was enough to convince me of the value of sometimes following your heart. If you have time or if you don't, stay awake and take this journey. This one just made my list. And my list is very short. Is this a film I recommend? No, this is a film I insist.