Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
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based on child development research. How do we rate?
Moving tribute to two civil rights widows' legacies.
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Betty & Coretta
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What's the Story?
Angela Bassett and Mary J. Blige star as recognizable widows of the civil rights movement in BETTY & CORETTA. The story opens shortly before the assassination of Malcolm X (Lindsay Owens Pierre), which leaves his wife, Betty (Blige), the single parent of four girls (plus twins born a few months later). Financial insecurity and the misunderstood messages of her husband's controversial legacy leave Betty with an uncertain future. Bassett plays Coretta, wife of Martin Luther King Jr. (Malik Yoba), who is also thrust into single parenthood with her husband's violent death. When their paths cross in later years, these women's shared experiences forge an indelible friendship that belies their late husbands' conflicting views and sees them through the ups and downs of raising their families and continuing the men's activism.
Is It Any Good?
This is a poignant tribute to the courage and fortitude of two unexpected civil rights heroes. It's narrated by celebrated actress Ruby Dee, whose firsthand accounts of the women she knew through her own activist work frame Betty & Coretta's segments. For many, this will be an introduction to these two figures who typically blend into the scenery in history's telling of their famous husbands' work on behalf of human liberty. But the movie makes a strong case for their own place in the books, earned by Betty's and Coretta's willingness to step up and carry the load left behind when their husbands were killed.
But following two stories over the course of three decades is no small undertaking for a TV movie, and it suffers a bit from an inconsistent pace. It's often difficult to follow the timeline (especially since the actresses themselves don't seem to age much), and rarely do the characters or narrator reference the passage of years in quantifiable terms. In light of this, viewers will have an easier time keeping up with the story's progress if they have some familiarity with the major events in the civil rights movement and its aftermath. In any case, it's a beautifully crafted tale punctuated by passionate lead performances that shed light on these brave women's lives and may encourage further research and discussion about this turning point in American history.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the legacies left by Betty and Coretta. What unique characteristics mark each one's work for human rights? Do their messages transcend the African-American cause? What other groups continue to be influenced by their work?
Read more about the conflicting policies preached by Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. What life experiences contributed to their differing views on protest? Did each serve the cause equally?
Reflect on race relations today. What progress have we made toward true equality? Does the media ever perpetuate racial stereotypes? What impact can this have?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: June 11, 2013
- Cast: Angela Bassett , Mary J. Blige , Ruby Dee
- Director: Yves Simoneau
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Black actors
- Studio: Lifetime
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Great Girl Role Models , History
- Run time: 120 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- Award: NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated: October 7, 2024
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