MISSISSIPI BURNING MOVIE REPORT-Yr 10 Kevin jiang

2.8.2011

Mississippi Burning is a 1988 American crime-drama film directed by Alan parker, featuring renowned actors, Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe. It is based on the 1964 civil rights movement named the: Freedom Summer, where a campaign was launched to get African Americans in the southern United States registered to vote. Students, activists and civil rights activists all marched together in the Southern States and it was in this atmosphere, where the real-life murders of three civil rights activists occurred. Mississippi Burning illustrates the civil rights battle that the nation was facing at this time. The film follows the story of Rupert Anderson and Alan Ward, two FBI agents that are sent to Jessup County, Mississippi to investigate the disappearance of three civil rights workers. The movie portrays the pain and suffering of the blacks and the hatred and rage felt by the whites. The movie is a good depiction of the civil rights events in 1964 and gives a powerful depiction to its audience. The concept of freedom was a much worshipped though by civil rights activists during the mid-late 20th century as it represented equality for all, but in Mississippi burning we are given a constant reminder that the Ku Klux Klan is present and does not believe in Equality, but instead the Anglo-Saxon race. The many scenes of the burning cross and Freedom being blown up is portrayed through a wide shot or a camera pan, and this gives the viewer a better look at the vile acts of the KKK. Throughout the movie, there is much contrast between the imbalance of Black and white society, as seen through many scenes throughout the movie. There is also conflict between the two FBI agents, which shows the tension between a Northerner and Southern born person. Alan parker has developed many characters throughout the story through the use of Symbolism and Indirect characterisation. The symbols of the two drinking taps at the start of the movie give a prominent example of the imbalance of society and even the restaurant scene of Black and white tables show how disadvantaged African Americans are. Indirect characterisation is prominent mainly through the intermittent disputes between Rupert Anderson and Alan Ward. This gives a sense of tension between the Northerners and Southerners, who at the time had very different views on African-Americans as shown through the quote It was a war long before we got here, where the two FBI agents were quarrelling over how to deal with the case. The music in Mississippi Burning is rather dramatic and fast paced, which works well it the fast paced action scenes. When action is present, the music tends to build tension to the whole scene which draws the urgency and sense of danger present when dealing with the Ku Klux Klan. The concepts present in Mississippi Burning are similar to the all time best selling fiction novel by Harper Lee, to kill a mockingbird. Both texts are set roughly in the same time period, where discrimination was widespread; mainly in the Southern States. Both Harper Lee and Alan Parker bring up concepts like Injustice and discrimination throughout their stories.

As the story progresses, much information is unravelled, slowly through inspection by the two FBI agents. Alan Parker depicts Mississippi as a highly rebellious county with a corrupt police department and a biased judging system: which always favours the AngloSaxon race. When the head country sheriff told the FBI agents : Go back to the North and stay away from our business, this told the audience that there Sheriff Stuckley was attempting to hide the truth. The quote Mississippians dont accept Jews, papists, Orientals and Mongols. Show that the discrimination is present among almost every Anglo-Saxon citizen of Mississippi. Mrs Pell later tells Anderson that the discrimination is taught and not natural: Its taught; from when I was seven. Eventually, seven men are convicted and sentenced to jail for committing the crimes in murdering the three civil rights activists. The Story ends up with a scene where both white and black children are singing together. This can be compared to the earlier scenes where the church was only occupied by AfricanAmericans and where segregation was present. Overall, Mississippi Burning is a highly credited film which has captivated its viewers because of its deep meaningful concepts and its well written plot. It is often compared to Harper lees to kill a mockingbird due to the similar nature in their concepts and ideas. Both to kill a mocking bird and Mississippi burning are inspirational texts and should be taught to future students so that a better understand of inequality could be understood.