Set in the Mississippi Delta in the 1940's, "The Rising Place" is a delicate look at a young woman's passionate quest for self awareness and acceptance in a time of social injustice and world war.
Virginia Wilder (Frances Fisher) visits her Aunt Millie (Alice Drummond) for Christmas and finds a collection of letters from World War II. Flashing back from the present to the 1940s, the letters reveal much about her aunt's life as a young woman, the toils of her friendship with a young black girl, and the climate of prejudice that surrounds her and her loved ones.
Everything is turned upside down when young Emily (Laurel Holloman) becomes pregnant out of wedlock by a soldier. The support of her best friends, Wilma Watson (Elise Neal) and Will Bacon (Mark Webber), and the unconditional love of her mother (Tess Harper) are all that hold Emily together as she is shunned by her peers, her town and even her own father (Gary Cole).
The strength of her spirit carries her through tragedy and out into the world where she boldly challenges the prejudice by simply deciding to be her own woman. She accepts the disapproval of others, and remains loyal to her friends, standing firmly by her convictions.
Rounding off the cast are Billy Campbell as Lt. Streete Wilder, Frances Sternhagen as Virginia's mother Ruth, Liam Aiken as Virginia's son Emmett, S. Epatha Merkerson as Wilma's mother Lessie, Beth Grant as local business mogul Melvina Pou, and Mason Gamble as Melvina's son Franklin.
Broadway legend Jennifer Holliday also appears in the film as a Jook Joint owner, performing three original songs she wrote especially for the film. David Foster and Linda Thompson contribute an original song based on Conrad Pope's original score and performed by Kendall Payne.
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