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', Vivica A. Fox, and Nia Long all previously starred in _"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (1990)_ as three very different love interests of Will Smith's character.

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Goofs

At the beginning of the scene for the Sunday dinner that Ahmad arranged, there is a pitcher of grape or purple Kool-Aid. When the meal starts, the glasses are filled with a red drink.

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Quotes

Mama Joe: You see, in life we all make some bad choices. My husband was a gambler. Almost cost us this house. But I worked, on my hands and knees, cleaning up after white folks. Taking in laundry. You do what you have to do to stay strong.

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Connections

Spin-off Soul Food (2000)

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Soundtracks

"Boys and Girls"
Written by Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds, Raphael Saadiq, Phillip Laney Stewart (as Laney Stewart) and Christopher Stewart (as Tricky Stewart)
Produced by Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds (as Babyface) for ECAF Productions, Inc. and Raphael Saadiq for Pookie Records
Performed by Tony! Toni! Toné! (as Tony Toni Tone)
Tony Toni Toné appears courtesy of Mercury Records

User Reviews

A Warm and Engaging Family Film

SOUL FOOD is an entertaining and, at times moving film that chronicles the lives of a tight-knit African American family. Big Mama (Irma P. Hall) is the widowed patriarch and referee who always knows exactly what to say to her children in any situation. Vanessa Williams is Terri, the oldest daughter, a no-nonsense attorney who spends a lot of time bailing family members out of tight spots and never lets them forget it. Terri's husband Miles (Michael Beach) is also an attorney who really wants to be a musician and is fighting an attraction to Terri's flaky cousin Faith (Gina Ravera). Viveca A. Fox is Maxine, the middle daughter who is married to Kenny (Jeffrey D. Sams), who we learn she stole from Terri when they were teenagers and has a son Ahmad (Brandon Hammond)who assists Big Mama in her job as family referee. The story opens at the wedding of youngest daughter Bird (Nia Long)whose new husband (Mikhi Phifer)is having trouble securing employment because of his stint in prison. The family manages to handle their differences until Big Mama is incapacitated by illness and can no longer be peacekeeper, but young Ahmad, seeing his family crumble, steps up to take up the slack. This entertaining comedy-drama has a surprisingly smart screenplay and first-rate performances, with young Hammond a standout. Lovely family drama that affectionately embraces the experience of a loving African American family. And the food looks delicious!