Bitterly honest and profoundly subtle writer/director Tina Mabry draws on her own life experiences to successfully capture the feelings of growing up in a world where opportunities seem to die in a myriad of destructive compulsions.

Set in 1986 and 1998, Mississippi Damned is based on the true story of three impoverished kids from a run-down rural community who must navigate their family’s cycle of abuse, addiction and violence. Kari (played by Kylee Russell/Tessa Thompson) is a talented pianist, but she is hiding a dark secret from her family. Kari’s aunt acts as her surrogate mother but she has her own troubles with her husband. Independently struggling to escape their circumstances, each character must decide whether to confront and conquer what has plagued their family for generations or to succumb to that same crippling fate and be forever damned in Mississippi. In Mabry’s carefully observed drama, they are torn between chasing dreams and caring for family members, and sometimes just having a good time gambling away the electric bill money or numbing the pain with alcohol. Resonating with raw emotion, this is a must-see story that has the courage to stand up and champion those who have the courage to be different or free. -- Eugene Haynes/Nicole Ross