America's Dream

Feb 17, 1996

1h 37m

★ 6.5

Overview

Made especially for the HBO cable network, this well-wrought feature is comprised of three short stories by three noted black American authors, each of which is directed by a respected black director.

Genres

Drama

TV Movie

Production Companies

HBO

Carrie Productions Inc.

America's Dream Trailers

Cast

Silas (segment "Long Black Song")

Danny Glover

George Du Vaul (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")

Wesley Snipes

Philomena (segment "The Reunion")

Lorraine Toussaint

David (segment "Long Black Song")

Tate Donovan

Aaron (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")

Norman D. Golden II

Beth Ann (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")

Susanna Thompson

Elna Du Vaul (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")

Jasmine Guy

Sarah (segment "Long Black Song")

Tina Lifford

Cal (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")

Carl Lumbly

Willie (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")

Bennet Guillory

Mr. Harper (segment "Long Black Song")

Danny Kamin

Lara (segment "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black")

Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly

In this drama that was a UCLA student thesis expanded to feature length, two African-Americans come from Tennessee to Los Angeles. The man will not marry the woman as he has just been released from prison and cannot commit himself. He ends up working in a factory, while she gets a job as a maid. The two split up after he gets involved in a strike. She goes to school but ends up laid off from a good paying job. Later the two meet again. Both are surprised by the great changes in their lives since they have been apart.

6.0

Human Nature

Sep 12, 2001

Obsessive scientist Nathan and his lover, the naturalist Lila, discover Puff: a man born and raised in the wild. As Nathan trains the wild man in the civilized ways of the world, Lila fights to preserve the man’s natural state. In the power struggle that ensues, an unusual love triangle emerges.

7.4

Once Were Warriors

Sep 2, 1994

A drama about a Maori family living in Auckland, New Zealand. Lee Tamahori tells the story of Beth Heke’s strong will to keep her family together during times of unemployment and abuse from her violent and alcoholic husband.

7.1

Lisbon Story

Dec 16, 1994

Lisbon Story is Wim Wenders' homage to Lisbon and films. A sound engineer obtains a mysterious postcard from a friend who at the moment is filming a film in Lisbon. He sets out across Europe to find him and help him.

7.0

Transamerica

Feb 14, 2005

A transgender woman takes an unexpected journey when she learns that she had a son, now a teenage runaway hustling on the streets of New York.

5.6

Cherrybomb

Feb 8, 2009

Teenagers Luke, Malachy, and Michelle embark on a wild weekend of drink, drugs, shop-lifting and stealing cars. But what starts out as a game turns deadly serious when the three discover that they can't get off the wild ride they've set in motion.

6.7

That Evening Sun

Nov 6, 2009

An aging Tennessee farmer returns to his homestead and must confront a family betrayal, the reappearance of an old enemy, and the loss of his farm.

6.5

Down to the Bone

Jan 14, 2004

A woman stuck in a stale marriage struggles to raise her children and manage her secret drug habit. But when winter comes to her small town, her balancing act begins to come crashing down.

4.7

Yellow

Dec 8, 2006

Amaryllis Campos is a young, classically trained Puerto Rican ballerina, who dreams of leaving her impoverished home in Puerto Rico to pursue fame and fortune as a dancer. Amaryllis heads for New York City, where she is forced to work in a seedy strip club to make ends meet. Setting audiences afire with her erotic moves, Amaryllis quickly becomes the strip club's hottest attraction, but must finally decide between true love and realizing her dream of becoming a star.

6.0

Life During Wartime

Apr 16, 2010

Friends, family, and lovers struggle to find love, forgiveness, and meaning in an almost war-torn world riddled with comedy and pathos. Follows Solondz's film Happiness (1998).

6.1

Mutual Appreciation

Mar 1, 2005

Alan is a musician who leaves a busted-up band for New York, and a new musical voyage. He tries to stay focused and fends off all manner of distractions, including the attraction to his good friend's girlfriend.

3.4

Running on Empty Dreams

May 12, 2009

Young and athletic Sydney Harris finds out that she has six months to live unless she and her husband can come up with the money for her medical treatment. Sounds simple enough; get the money, save her life. But her underpaid, working class husband can't afford the treatment. And time is ticking away. As Sydney begins to seek out a means to save her life, she begins to question her existence and does some soul searching, only to find herself falling in love with a single mom in the neighborhood that Sydney and her family have just moved into. Sydney is then forced to choose between her religious upbringing, her husband and son, and a love that she hides, all while fighting a losing battle to save her own life.

6.4

PVC-1

May 22, 2007

Based on the true story of a woman who is turned into a human time bomb in a bizarre act of terrorism.

3.5

Toe to Toe

Jan 16, 2009

Out on the lacrosse pitch, wealthy but troubled Jesse and poor but driven Tosha form an easy and deep bond, but their relationship is threatened once they enter the hallways of an elite prep school they attend in Washington, D.C. There, they must work to overcome racial and other tensions in their classmates, and in themselves, if they hope to keep their friendship alive.

6.0

The War Boys

May 30, 2009

David, George, and Greg, best friends since high school, are “The War Boys”. They used to perch on the US-Mexican border, waiting to spot illegal immigrants who were trying to run into the United States. Sometimes, without a thought for the immigrants, the boys chased them across the wasteland and back across the border – just for fun. It was just one of those games boys played to make themselves feel big. But high school’s over now. David is unexpectedly home from his freshman year of college and the War Boys have been reunited.

4.3

Killer's Delight

Apr 28, 1978

A detective tracks a serial killer through San Francisco.

4.5

Paradoxical

Sep 25, 2017

"Paradoxical" is an independent science fiction film from the makers of international documentaries "Design & Thinking," "Maker" and "Hanzi."

5.2

Los bastardos

May 20, 2008

A 24 hour period in the lives of Fausto and Jesus, two undocumented Mexican day-laborers in L.A. Each day another task, each day the same pressure to find money. They go about their daily routine, standing on the corner at the Home Improvement Store waiting for work to come. Today, the job they are given is well paid compared to their poor usual wages.

7.0

Dear Frankie

May 18, 2004

Nine-year-old Frankie and his single mum Lizzie have been on the move ever since Frankie can remember, most recently arriving in a seaside Scottish town. Wanting to protect her deaf son from the truth that they've run away from his father, Lizzie has invented a story that he is away at sea on the HMS Accra. Every few weeks, Lizzie writes Frankie a make-believe letter from his father, telling of his adventures in exotic lands. As Frankie tracks the ship's progress around the globe, he discovers that it is due to dock in his hometown. With the real HMS Accra arriving in only a fortnight, Lizzie must choose between telling Frankie the truth or finding the perfect stranger to play Frankie's father for just one day...

6.0

Celebrity

Sep 7, 1998

The career and personal life of writer Lee are at a standstill, so he divorces his bashful wife, Robin, and dives into a new job as an entertainment journalist. His assignments take him to the swankiest corners of Manhattan, but as he jumps from one lavish party to another and engages in numerous empty romances, he starts to doubt the worth of his work. Meanwhile, top TV producer Tony falls for Robin and introduces her to the world of celebrity.