One person can keep a family together and, when that one person is gone, a family can be torn apart.
Director:
Writer:
Stars:
Awards:
- 6 wins & 11 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Vanessa Williams | ... |
Teri
(as Vanessa L. Williams)
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| Vivica A. Fox | ... |
Maxine
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| Nia Long | ... |
Bird
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| Michael Beach | ... |
Miles
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| Mekhi Phifer | ... |
Lem
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| Brandon Hammond | ... |
Ahmad
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| Jeffrey D. Sams | ... |
Kenny
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| Gina Ravera | ... |
Faith
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| Irma P. Hall | ... |
Mother Joe
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| Carl Wright | ... |
Reverend Williams
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| Mel Jackson | ... |
Simuel
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Morgan Méchelle Smith | ... |
Kelly
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John M. Watson Sr. | ... |
Uncle Pete
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M.T. Alexander | ... |
Jada
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| Lawrence Petty | ... |
Harome
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| Marcia Wright | ... |
Nicole
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Bernard Mixon | ... |
Dr. Benson
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Hamp Clemons | ... |
Hamp
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Theron Touché Lykes | ... |
Blimp
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Martell Hill Edmond | ... |
Ahmad - Age 4
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Ras Majah Couzan | ... |
Dread Man
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James W. Boinski | ... |
Foreman
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| Mike Bacarella | ... |
Printing Company Owner
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Joan Collaso | ... |
Choir Member
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| Donn Carl Harper | ... |
Funeral Minister
(as Donn C. Harper)
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George Brashear | ... |
Blimp's Henchman #1
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Larry C. Tankson | ... |
Blimp's Henchman #2
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Austin Curtis | ... |
Family Member
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Sylvester Phifer | ... |
Bartender
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| Malik Yoba | ... |
Studio Engineer
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| Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds | ... |
Band Member #1
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Kevon Edmonds | ... |
Band Member #2
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| Melvin Edmonds | ... |
Band Member #3
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Jo Jo Hailey | ... |
Band Member #4
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K-Ci Hailey | ... |
Band Member #5
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Simon Horrocks | ... |
Band Member #6
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Randy Walker | ... |
Band Member #7
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| Tamara Braun | ... |
Teri's Secretary
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Kimberly Latrice Jones | ... |
Salon Patron (uncredited)
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Juan Marsh | ... |
Party Goer (uncredited)
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| Isley Nicole Melton | ... |
Hair Client (uncredited)
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| Kevin Mukherji | ... |
Sanjay (uncredited)
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| David Newman | ... |
Boy Friend #1 (uncredited)
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Greg Wittman | ... |
Orderly (uncredited)
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Directed by
| George Tillman Jr. | ||
Written by
| George Tillman Jr. | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds | ... | executive producer |
| Tracey E. Edmonds | ... | producer |
| Michael McQuarn | ... | co-producer |
| Robert Teitel | ... | producer |
| Llewellyn Wells | ... | line producer |
Music by
| Lisa Coleman | ... | (music by) |
| Wendy Melvoin | ... | (music by) |
Cinematography by
| Paul Elliott | ... | director of photography |
Film Editing by
| John Carter | ... | film editor |
Editorial Department
| Gary Burritt | ... | negative cutter |
| Fred Chandler | ... | post production executive |
| Dennis McNeill | ... | color timer |
| DeNon Porter | ... | assistant editor (as Denon Porter) |
| Ron Radvinsky | ... | assistant editor |
| Dirk Westervelt | ... | associate editor |
| Steve Kraus | ... | editing systems technician (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Robi Reed | ... | (as Robi Reed-Humes) |
Production Design by
| Maxine Shepard | ||
Art Direction by
| Cydney M. Harris | ||
Set Decoration by
| Joe Bristol | ||
Costume Design by
| Salvador Pérez Jr. | ... | (as Salvador Perez) |
Makeup Department
| Kate Best | ... | makeup artist: Ms. Williams |
| Eadra Brown | ... | first assistant hair |
| Timothy M. Carter Sr. | ... | hairstylist |
| Sterfon Demings | ... | key hair |
| Cat'Ania McCoy-Howze | ... | key makeup artist |
| Denise Wynbrandt | ... | first assistant makeup (as Denise J. Wynbrandt) |
Production Management
| Thomas J. Busch | ... | unit production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Randy Fletcher | ... | first assistant director |
| Stefanie Moore | ... | second second assistant director (as Stefanie A. Moore) |
| Jono Oliver | ... | second assistant director |
Art Department
| John Ahlgren | ... | painter (as John W. Ahlgren) |
| Martin Barba | ... | carpenter |
| Michael Beavers | ... | carpenter (as Michael J. Beavers) |
| Mary A. Brady | ... | buyer |
| Michael L. Butkovich | ... | painter |
| David J. Chamerski | ... | assistant property master |
| Frank Coronado | ... | illustrator |
| William Dambra | ... | property master |
| Edward England | ... | construction coordinator (as Ed England) |
| Anthony Joseph Fatigato | ... | painter |
| Frank Ferrari | ... | labor foreman (as Frank M. Ferrari) |
| Matt Gibson | ... | carpenter |
| Mishell Glockler | ... | art department coordinator |
| Harry N. Haase | ... | lead painter |
| Gary Happ | ... | construction foreman |
| James Hartnett | ... | carpenter (as James M. Hartnett) |
| Mike Hohe | ... | carpenter (as Michael Hohe) |
| Aaron C. Holden Jr. | ... | on-set dresser |
| Tom Holloway | ... | carpenter (as Thomas Holloway) |
| Gregg Jarrett | ... | carpenter (as Gregg A. Jarrett) |
| John Kroll | ... | carpenter |
| Mel P. Mack | ... | carpenter |
| Stanley Mack | ... | carpenter (as Stanley N. Mack) |
| Christ Maentanis | ... | painter (as Chris Maentanis) |
| Cyril H. Matthys | ... | swing gang (as Cy Matthys) |
| Quentin Matthys | ... | swing gang |
| John McHugh | ... | carpenter |
| Freddie Mikels | ... | painter (as Fred Mikles) |
| Darryl Parker | ... | carpenter |
| Joel Prihoda | ... | leadman |
| Daniel R. Sarich | ... | painter |
| Daniel Simone Sr. | ... | painter (as Daniel Simone) |
| Joe E. Skinner | ... | painter |
| John J. Slove Jr. | ... | carpenter |
| Glenn Stevens | ... | carpenter (as Glenn A. Stevens) |
| James Topel | ... | carpenter (as Jim Topel) |
| Scott Troha | ... | swing gang |
| Tim Wilp | ... | painter (as Timothy W. Wilp) |
| Dino P. Yario | ... | painter (as Dino Yario) |
| Mark Anthony Besozzi | ... | swing gang (uncredited) |
| John J. Slove Jr. | ... | propmaker (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Bobbi Banks | ... | adr editor |
| Ricardo Broadus | ... | sound effects editor |
| John Chandler | ... | foley editor |
| Paul Curtis | ... | dialogue editor |
| Elisabeth Flaum | ... | sound effects editor |
| Marshall Garlington | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Brian Geer | ... | foley mixer |
| Jason Johnston | ... | cableman |
| Michael Kamper | ... | sound effects editor |
| Jonathan Karp | ... | sound effects editor |
| Shawn Kennelly | ... | assistant adr mixer (as Sean Kennelly) |
| Jason King | ... | dialogue editor |
| Jason Lezama | ... | foley editor |
| Laura Macias | ... | foley artist |
| Larry Mann | ... | supervising sound editor (as Lawrence H. Mann) |
| Mike Moser | ... | sound effects editor (as Michael Moser) |
| Vince Nicastro | ... | foley artist |
| David Obermeyer | ... | sound mixer |
| Juan Peralta | ... | re-recording assistant |
| Colin Rogers | ... | adr recordist |
| Blair Scheller | ... | boom operator |
| Ann Scibelli | ... | supervising sound effects editor |
| Frederick H. Stahly | ... | dialogue editor |
| John C. Stuver | ... | adr editor (as Stuv) |
| Ken Teaney | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Eric Thompson | ... | adr mixer |
| Tim Walston | ... | sound effects editor |
| Skip Williams | ... | sound effects editor |
| Ronald L. Wright | ... | cableman |
| Pembrooke Andrews | ... | assistant dialogue editor (uncredited) |
| Douglas Hinton | ... | film-to-HDTV sound editor (uncredited) |
| John Lajvort | ... | sound editorial engineer (uncredited) |
| Liz Sroka | ... | adr recordist (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Rodman Kiser | ... | special effects assistant (as Rod Kiser) |
| Tom Ryba | ... | special effects coordinator |
| Jeffery Lyle Segal | ... | special effects makeup |
Visual Effects by
| Mindy Minkow | ... | optical camera (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Iris Ade | ... | stunts (as Iris Adé) |
| Naima A. Dawson | ... | stunts |
| Randy Popplewell | ... | stunts (as Randy A. Popplewell) |
| Bobby Stuart | ... | stunts (as Bob Stuart) |
| Irvetta McMurtry | ... | stunt double (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Janice Arthur | ... | steadicam operator |
| Joseph P. Connelly | ... | electrician |
| Theodore A. Corso | ... | electrician (as Theadore A. Corso) |
| James Dewinski | ... | electrician (as Jim Dewinski) |
| Adam C. Eichhorst | ... | dolly grip (as Adam Eichhorst) |
| Joe Evreniadis | ... | company grip |
| Marco Fargnoli | ... | camera loader |
| John P. Friday | ... | best boy electric (as John Friday) |
| Dulce 'Candy' González | ... | camera operator |
| Andy Graham | ... | first assistant camera (as Andrew Graham) |
| Adam Griswold | ... | best boy rigging grip |
| Charles S. Hodes | ... | still photographer (as Chuck Hodes) |
| John Hudecek | ... | gaffer |
| Mort Hyatt | ... | electrician (as Morton E. Hyatt) |
| Harry P. Jackson III | ... | electrician |
| Gregory A. Jackson | ... | second assistant camera |
| Charles Jimenez | ... | key rigging grip |
| Michael Kohnhorst | ... | director of photography: second unit |
| Robert Krzeminski | ... | electric rigger |
| Dana Kupper | ... | first assistant camera: "b" camera |
| Michael Lange | ... | company grip |
| Michelle Mann | ... | camera remote operator |
| Mark E. Matthys | ... | best boy grip |
| Donald E. Miller | ... | key grip |
| Peter Miller | ... | electrician |
| William R. Nielsen Jr. | ... | steadicam operator (as Bill Nielson Jr.) |
| Thomas J. Ridgen | ... | company grip (as Thomas J. Rigden) |
| Joe 'Jody' Williams | ... | camera production assistant (as Jody Williams) |
| Kyle Holden | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| John T. Martin | ... | grip (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Barbara Harris | ... | adr voice casting |
| Sharon D. King | ... | casting: Chicago |
| Aimy Mhoon | ... | casting assistant |
| Mark A. Ridge | ... | extras casting (as Mark Ridge) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Jacqueline S. Beatka | ... | seamstress |
| Jane Blank | ... | seamstress |
| Patrick Caulfield | ... | costumer |
| Gloria Coffey-Sharrieff | ... | costumer |
| Gina Marie Ome | ... | costumer |
| Nancy Takehara | ... | costume supervisor (as N. Rozakis Takehara) |
| Juanita White | ... | assistant to costume designer |
Location Management
| Stephen Andrzejewski | ... | location manager |
| Dawn Smallman | ... | location assistant |
| George L. Tarrant Jr. | ... | location production assistant |
Music Department
| Lisa Coleman | ... | soloist: piano |
| Neal Desby | ... | soloist: oboe |
| Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds | ... | executive music producer |
| Dan Garde | ... | music editor |
| Clark Germain | ... | orchestra coordinator |
| Suzie Katayama | ... | orchestra consultant |
| Robert Kraft | ... | executive in charge of music |
| Wendy Melvoin | ... | soloist: drums and bass |
| William Motzing | ... | orchestra conductor (as Bill Motzing) |
| Andrew Scheps | ... | soloist: trumpet / underscore coordinator |
| Ty Swaggalee Scott | ... | singer |
| Danielle Diego | ... | music executive (uncredited) |
| Brad Gilderman | ... | music mixer (uncredited) |
| Stephanie Lowry | ... | assistant music editor (uncredited) |
| Michael McQuarn | ... | music supervisor (uncredited) |
| David Sabee | ... | orchestra contractor (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Alicia Accardo | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Michael J. Farej | ... | transportation co-captain |
| Patrick Lynn | ... | transportation captain (as Patrick J. Lynn) |
| John P. McAuliffe | ... | transportation coordinator |
Additional Crew
| Gena Avery | ... | assistant: Ms. Williams |
| Brian W. Boyd | ... | assistant: Mr. Tillman (as Brian Boyd) |
| Ken Cabrera | ... | craft service (as Kenny Cabrera) |
| Harold Caldwell | ... | office production assistant |
| Dennis Cavalier | ... | payroll accountant |
| Roy E. Dean | ... | fire safety (as Roy E. Dean II) |
| Elizabeth Dollarhide | ... | assistant: Mr. Wells |
| Shara P. Fleming | ... | executive assistant: Mrs. Edmonds (as Shara Fleming) |
| Damon Glaspie | ... | set production assistant (as Damon 'Dee' Glaspie) |
| Russell Green | ... | office production assistant (as Russell A. Green) |
| Larry Hanks | ... | piano instructor |
| Poppy Hanks | ... | assistant: Mr. Teitel |
| Bernard G. Jacobs | ... | clothing provider: Mekhi Phifer, Marc Buchanan-Pelle Pelle |
| Darryl Johnson | ... | office production assistant (as Darryl E. Johnson) |
| Kathryn Madden | ... | medic (as Kathryn A. Madden) |
| Ademola McMullen | ... | set production assistant |
| Debbie Miller | ... | unit publicist |
| Melody L. Moses | ... | set production assistant |
| Mark A. Murphy | ... | first assistant accountant |
| Donna E. Oakes | ... | craft service |
| Margaret J. Orlando | ... | production coordinator |
| Dan Perri | ... | main title design |
| Freddie Petros | ... | food stylist |
| Terrie Quinlan | ... | studio teacher |
| Margaret A. Thomas | ... | assistant production coordinator |
| Vanessa Truvillion | ... | choreographer |
| Solombra Tucker | ... | executive assistant: Mr. Edmonds |
| Jon-Paul Velasquez | ... | set production assistant (as Jon Paul Velasquez) |
| Jane Chase Wells | ... | key set production assistant |
| James York | ... | medic |
| Ericka N. Shane | ... | accounting assistant: Chicago (uncredited) |
| Greg Whiteside | ... | computer/video playback operator (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Twentieth Century Fox (1997) (United States) (theatrical) (as Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation) (A News Corporation Company)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (1997) (United States) (VHS) (pan and scan)
- 20th Century Fox Argentina (1998) (Argentina)
- Gativideo (1998) (Argentina) (VHS)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2001) (United States) (tv) (broadcast premiere)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox (Far East)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Andora Studios (score mixed at)
- Astro Film Labs (the producers wish to thank)
- Chicago Film Office (the producers wish to thank)
- Cinema Research (titles and opticals by)
- City of Chicago, Illinois (the producers wish to thank)
- Clairmont Camera Film & Digital (camera systems by)
- Colombia Michael Reese Osteopathic Medical Center (the producers wish to thank)
- Columbia College, Chicago (the producers wish to thank)
- EFX Systems (digital sound and rerecording by)
- Eat Your Hearts Out (caterer)
- Ironwood Studios (score recorded at)
- Jonvaldi (clothing provided by: Vanessa Williams)
- LaFace Records (soundtrack available on)
- Marriott Residence Hotel, Chicago (the producers wish to thank)
- Punker Pad West (score recorded at)
- Ritz Carlton Hotel, Chicago (the producers wish to thank)
- The City of Oak Park, Illinois (the producers wish to thank)
- The Illinois Film Office (the producers wish to thank)
- Twentieth Century Fox (acknowledgement: is the author of this motion picture for purposes of copyright and other laws)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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.
Written by |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | A story of the people who make us strong and the recipe that makes us a family. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $7,500,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $11,197,897, 28 Sep 1997 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Mekhi Phifer, who played Lem, was at one point married to Malinda Williams, who plays Bird in the cable series. See more » |
| 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. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Peacemaker/Soul Food/The Edge/The Ice Storm/The Assignment (1997). See more » |
| Soundtracks | A Song for Mama See more » |
| 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. See more » |