Soul Food (1997)

Matriarch Mama Joe has held her family together for 40 years around a Sunday dinner of soul food. When diabetes hospitalizes her, the dinners stop and tensions among her three daughters ... See full summary »

Director:

George Tillman Jr.

Writer:

George Tillman Jr.

Stars:

Vanessa Williams, Vivica A. Fox, Nia Long

6 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vanessa Williams	...	Teri (as Vanessa L. Williams)
Vivica A. Fox	...	Maxine
Nia Long	...	Bird
Michael Beach	...	Miles
Mekhi Phifer	...	Lem
Brandon Hammond	...	Ahmad
Jeffrey D. Sams	...	Kenny
Gina Ravera	...	Faith
Irma P. Hall	...	Mother Joe
Carl Wright	...	Reverend Williams
Mel Jackson	...	Simuel
Morgan Méchelle Smith	...	Kelly
John M. Watson Sr.	...	Uncle Pete
M.T. Alexander	...	Jada
Lawrence Petty	...	Harome

Storyline

Matriarch Mama Joe has held her family together for 40 years around a Sunday dinner of soul food. When diabetes hospitalizes her, the dinners stop and tensions among her three daughters start to break the family apart. Two of the sisters feud continuously: Teri is jealous of Maxine's marriage and irritated that everyone assumes her corporate salary is open to the rest of the family's uses. Maxine resents Teri's bossiness and insensitivity to family tradition. Bird, the youngest, newly married to an ex-con, accepts a favor from an old lover that leads to her husband's arrest. Mama Joe's grandson Ahmad cooks up a scheme to bring the family together, back to the table.

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Plot Keywords:

sister | african american | food in title | family relationships | discrimination | 

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Taglines:

There's Plenty For Everyone!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some strong sexuality and language

Details

Official Sites:

Fox

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 September 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

A mama főztje

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£56,833 (UK) (12 June 1998)

Gross:

£125,459 (UK) (19 June 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox 2000 Pictures, Edmonds Entertainment Group (EEG)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

'Vanessa L. Williams' played the role of Terri in the movie, and 'Vanessa A. Williams' played the role of Maxine in the cable series.

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Goofs

When Lem is sitting in the living room talking to Kenny at his house, you can see a light from the camera visible in the window behind them.

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Quotes

Mama Joe: One finger won't make an impact, but you ball all those fingers into a fist, and you can strike a mighty blow. Now, this family has got to be that fist.

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Connections

Referenced in The Boondocks: The Itis (2006)

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Soundtracks

"No Diggity"
Written by Teddy Riley, Chauncey Hannibal (as Chauncey Hannibul), William Stewart,
Lynise Walter, Richard Vick, Bill Withers
Performed by Blackstreet (as BLACKstreet)
Courtesy of Interscope Records
By Arrangement with Universal Music Special Markets

User Reviews

Appetizing (you're right, I'm not funny)

Wonderfully acted and well-written comedy/drama (more drama, though) about an extended family who spend their sundays together with a huge dinner. What's on the menu? Soul Food of course!

But when Big Mama Joe (and the glue of the family) falls into a coma the family fall out, it's up to Maxine's boy Ahmad, (and story narrator) to bring the big family together again for another sunday dinner.

Of course when portraying a realistic family it helps to have good actors, and with a stellar cast including Vanessa L. Williams, Vivica A. Fox and Nia Long they pull it off successfully.

Just like what the tagline says: Reality with a bite.