Park Day (Full Frame)

One day can change your life forever. Three young people growing up in New Haven, Missouri find themselves at a dangerous life crossroad. Under fierce pressure by his father, (Ron Canada, "The Human Stain", "Lone Star") Steve Johnson (Hill Harper, "Get On The Bus", "He Got Game") must face his fears and, in one pivotal moment, decide what kind of man he wants to be. Tamala Davis (Monica Calhoun, "Beauty Shop", "The Best Man") must solve the puzzle of a strange and recurring dream; while her brother John Eric (marvelously played by newcomer Land Scott) derided as a "gherri curl juice drippin' townie" by the Iota Omega members at the local college, must try to keep his cool in the face of threats by an old school hoodlum as well as the abusive insults of the fraternity members. In the midst of all this, mysterious old man, said to be evil and to have cursed the black community for its cowardice, lurks on the edge of the community. No one really knows just how Heseeit Turner (Hauntingly played by film legend and SAG Lifetime Achievement Honoree Brock Peters, "To Kill A Mockingbird", "The Pawn Broker") really is, but we get the sense that somehow because of his strange connection with Steve, he of all people knows the supernatural importance of the day and is, in fact, influencing it. This compelling, evocative drama takes place on one special day, Park Day! Park Day is an annual late summer homecoming commemorating an early 20th century mass exodus of the majority of the black community due to the lynching of several black men in the town square. During the Park Day event, African Americans who had roots in New Haven return for a reunion and celebration of life.

Director's commentary, Photo gallery, Park Day retrospective, Trailers.