Sudie and Simpson

(This review is also a plot spoiler.) "Sudie and Simpson" is a rare movie. It takes place in a poor, small southern town during World War II, a town firmly entrenched in the racist beliefs of that era. At the borders of the town, street signs not only contain the usual information, but a dire warning as well: "N-gg-r, don't let your face be seen in our town after dark." Sudie is on the edge of puberty, and she still hovers between intense curiosity about the world and a childlike desire to dive into a secret world where she can play and forget the privations of a world at war. Seeking that fantasy, she wanders into a secluded area at the edge of town where an old wooden house still stands abandoned. But this time, she notices that a garden has been planted, and she smells tobacco. To her amazement, a man with black skin and hair very different from her own is hoeing. Curious rather than afraid, she comes up behind him and startles him into fearful wariness by asking, "Mister, are you a n-gg-r?" She had never seen one before.Simpson is angry that anyone has found him out, just when he had found a place where he could live without anyone knowing. But Sudie's intense curiosity about him, and her promise never to tell anyone about him, ease his fears somewhat. The two develop a strange friendship built on Sudie's innocence and total lack of prejudice and Simpson's sad experiences as a Black man who had once been a husband and father until a tragedy destroyed everything he once believed in.Sudie watches and listens--and begins to learn about life and inequality. The denouement involves a younger girl who goes missing. When she is found, it is clear that she has been sexually molested--but by whom? The men of the town, who know of Simpson by now, decide that he must have done this awful deed, simply because he is Black. They gather in the schoolyard to plan how to catch him and "string him up" when Simpson himself arrives, together with the white man he works for, a man more reasonable than the people of Sudie's town. Without even a word, the mob of bigots head for Simpson to kill him, but Simpson's voice stops them for a moment. He urges Sudie to tell the men the name of the child molester ("Tell the truth and shame the Devil," he whispers.) The real criminal--who, as it turns out, has been molesting many girls, including Sudie and her friends, is a respected teacher in the school. (As Sudie says to a girlfriend, "He gives me fifty cents to wiggle his 'thing.'") With the eyes of all the town upon her for the first time in her life, Sudie is confused and fearful, knowing that Simpson's life is at stake, but knowing that something terrible might also happen to her if she tells the whole town, including her mother, that she has made friends with a "Negro." What happens next is amazing."Sudie and Simpson" is not merely about racism and sex crimes. The real beauty of the film is the genuine love and friendship that grows between the two unlikely characters. Simpson's grief over the family he lost is healed by Sudie's total acceptance of him; Sudie's alienation from her own family, and her inner conflicts about the teacher who was also molesting her, are healed through Simpson's caring love that overcomes his fear of being discovered. The town's spiritual ugliness is finally brought into the light.I bought this movie because Lifetime is no longer airing it. And despite the subplot, the movie contains no sexual scenes or language, "out of context" foul talk, and no physical violence. Unless you must have action-packed adventures, computer-created monsters, sex, and every four-letter word in creation, please make room in your heart for this gem of a sleeper.

I saw this movie so many years ago and searched for it because I remember the beautiful relationship between Simpson and Sudie.. especially when they were planted a garden. Her commit was my whole reason for buying the movie. She said she had found the reason why God made us all different colors of skin, which was so profound. I wish I could post that part of the movie on Youtube for all to see, why God created mankind to be so different and beautiful. The other part of the movie I did not remember but still it shows how some times adults need to listen to children when they are being abused and how Simpson helped Sudie through that. Quite a story..

Reminders of where some southern towns were & how much we still struggle w/ racial discrimination & how some innocent sweet children can love no matter what differences. Many children have already had discriminatory ideas fixed in their brains before there ever met anyone that is not white. The film also brings out the subtle drilling in girls minds that it is their fault if someone sexually preys on them, creating an environment for the sexual predator to attack young girls who will not talk to anyone as they will be told they are a sinner like Eve. I enjoy Louis Gossett, Jr.'s acting as he portrays a strong black man who is being suppressed & forced to live in very difficult circumstances. More positive roles are needed as media often shows the negative image.

Now this movie was DOWN RIGHT GREAT!! MY OPINION. There was a Real Connection Here An it Was A VERY TOUCHING TOWARDS THE END. You Definitely want Be Disappointed After watching this movie. I give it 10 THUMBS UP If I had the extra pair of hands. So go ahead Buy this you want be sorry you did. I wish I could find more movies like this. So Good Luck On your Movie Search. I Hope I Helped You in Your Decision in buying this movie.

The Acting of Louis Gossett, Jr. and Sara Gilbert was Superb. I Truly felt the range of Emotions, Trust, and Confliction of their characters during that Period of Time/Era. A great Film that in Today's climate would be a good resource for showing and teaching to Judge one Not by the Color of their Skin but by the Content of One's Character.

I like everything about the movie . I love Lou Gossett in any movie . All the character were wonderful. It takes your mind back when things were really bad . This movie , everybody should watch .

I love this movie. The friendship between Sudie and Simpson is so heartwarming. The story of a young girl who questioned societies prejudices and found a friend she could count on. This movie touches on sensitive subjects such as racism, molestation,abuse of power and sexism. I watched this with my children when they were youngsters and used it to open the way for discussion of these important issues.

this was a good movie. I didn't like the part where the perpetrator tried to blame the rape on a black man.I was glad Sudie talk the girl into telling the truth that Simpson was not the perpetrator. Sudie was also very loving to simpson when he was so sick and took care of him. I would recommend it to anyone to see.