Set in the heart of America in the 1930s. Walter Osgood (Louis Gosset Jr) is the only black man left in the town of High Lonesome that has been cleared by the overwhelming white supremacist beliefs. Having lost his entire family to them and not knowing where his young Son is or whether he is alive is what sets this movie apart from others.
Predictably no-one in the town 'High Lonesome'gives a darn and this is cleverly shown when the Bank manager says "I only have to charge you 6% instead of the 3% I charge white-folk because of the stockholders". He seems so plausible that you just want to believe him as one who has to follow the pack of 'Black haters'. The Sheriff and star of the film little Charlie are support to this as the story revolves around the slow but sure dissolving of pure hatred to one of heart and admiration over the strength Gosset Jr shows in his character that won't be beaten by the racists.
The outcome is not overly predictable and to dismiss this as a 'same old story' would be wrong and might even show ones own racist views!? A cracking made for TV film that belongs in the Cinema and also the classrooms of the schools.
All in all a compelling drama that would not have been lost on the big screen.
To all the so called film critics out there who try to Judge 'Stars' on their other films, stop doing this, judge the actors on the films you write about as this is the only relevance people want to know. Opinions are varied but the story is not, this is a powerful and very well acted film where even Don Swayze looked at home!
Highly recommended.
