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Cast: Edgar Ray Killen, Fannie Lee Chaney, Carolyn Goodman, Rita Schwerner Bender
NESHOBA tells the story of a Mississippi town still divided about the meaning of justice, 40 years after the murders of civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner. Although Klansmen bragged openly about what they did in 1964, no one was held accountable until 2005, when the State indicted preacher Edgar Ray Killen, an 80-year-old notorious racist and alleged mastermind of the killings. Through intimate interviews with the families of the victims, candid interviews with black and white Neshoba County Citizens, and exclusive, first time interviews with Killen, the film explores whether healing and reconciliation are possible without telling the unvarnished truth.
Summer 1964, three young civil rights workers were brutally murdered in Neshoba County, Mississippi, an event that inspired the theatrical film "Mississippi Burning". James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwermer three men in Mississippi to help in registering blacks for voting where brutally murdered but everyone involved and those that had the power to bring the murderers to justice turned a blind eye to it all. It wasn't until 2004, 40 years later that the case was finally reopened and Rev. Edgar Ray Killen, the alleged ringleader was finally indicted for the murders. Neshoba follows the trail and it also lets Killen speak, I was amazed that he was willing to be a part of this because every word that comes out of his mouth just shows how hateful and racist this man is. The film also interviews the victim's family members which really puts in all into perspective as well as residents of the county and surrounding area. After all this time it is still amazing to see something so ugly still exists today, the racism may not be as bad or openly talked about but it still exists today and not only in Mississippi which is a sad thing.
The film brings to light one of the worse injustices in our history, it's not a pretty film and for the most part it's damn ugly and disturbing but it is also an important film that everyone should see. The film didn't have to be on for very long before I became angry over not only the murders but what happened right after which was nothing. 40 years later the families finally got some justice from it all but there were still others involved that to this day never got indicted which shows that even though we have come along way there is still a long way to go before everyone, regardless of race will be fully treated equally. Neshoba is a powerful film that deserves as big an audience as possible, if you have seen "Mississippi Burning" you owe it to yourself to see this film. The DVD contains Special Features that include:
Short Film: Get on Board
Courtroom Footage and More
You can order the DVD HERE.
Released by First Run Features
***** Out Of *****