Soul Food

1997
R
1h 55m

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

9.3K

YOUR RATING

Vivica A. Fox, Nia Long, Mekhi Phifer, Vanessa Williams, Michael Beach, Irma P. Hall, Brandon Hammond, and Jeffrey D. Sams in Soul Food (1997)

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Comedy Drama

One person can keep a family together and, when that one person is gone, a family can be torn apart.One person can keep a family together and, when that one person is gone, a family can be torn apart.One person can keep a family together and, when that one person is gone, a family can be torn apart.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

9.3K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 6 wins & 11 nominations total

Trivia
Mekhi Phifer, who played Lem, was at one point married to Malinda Williams, who plays Bird in the cable series.

Goofs
When Bird's co-workers are attacking Lem when he comes out the bathroom, he's wearing boxers under his towel.

Quotes
Mama Joe: You see, in life we all make some bad choices. My husband was a gambler. Almost cost us this house. But I worked, on my hands and knees, cleaning up after white folks. Taking in laundry. You do what you have to do to stay strong.

Alternate versions
The first version of this movie that George Tillman Jr made was entitled Spice of Life. It was released on a local cable access channel in Milwaukee, WI.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Peacemaker/Soul Food/The Edge/The Ice Storm/The Assignment (1997)

Soundtracks
A Song for Mama
Written by Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds
Produced by Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds (as Babyface) for ECAF Productions, Inc.
Performed by Boyz II Men (as Boyz II Men)
Boyz II Men appear courtesy of Motown Records

User reviews42

Review

Featured review

8/10

A movie that keeps it real

OK, so I waited for 4 years to see this movie. Silly me. This movie was very good. Not great, but very good. The acting really carried what was a mediocre script. The movie did peak my interest in how this family addressed issues openly among themselves. They did not try to sweep things under the rugs. Rather, they used "Sunday dinner" as an opportunity to address tough family issues such an infidelity, gambling addition and encarceration.

The film was also successful at capturing many aspects of a typical, 90's African-American family. Being half African-American, I can see traces of my very own family in this film and thought that the script was very true, open and honest.