Watch The Long Walk Home

The Long Walk Home is a 1990 drama film starring Sissy Spacek, Whoopi Goldberg, and Dwight Schultz. Set in Montgomery, Alabama during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, the film tells the story of Odessa Cotter (Goldberg), a black woman who works as a maid for white families and is forced to walk several miles to and from work every day due to the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

One day, after Rosa Parks is arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white person, the black community in Montgomery begins the boycott, which lasts for over a year. Odessa's employer, Miriam Thompson (Spacek), is sympathetic to the cause and offers to let Odessa stay at her house until the boycott is over, but Odessa declines, insisting that she needs to be with her family. Miriam then offers to give Odessa a ride to and from work every day, despite the risk of being caught by the police.

As the boycott continues, tensions rise in the city and the police become increasingly violent towards the protesters. Miriam, who initially had reservations about getting involved in the movement, becomes more and more passionate about it, attending meetings and rallies and even risking her own safety to smuggle funds to support the boycott.

Meanwhile, Odessa faces her own challenges as her husband (Schultz) becomes increasingly critical of her involvement in the boycott and her son is bullied at school for supporting the cause. Despite these obstacles, Odessa remains committed to the movement and begins to find her own voice as a strong and courageous woman.

The Long Walk Home is a poignant and powerful film that explores themes of racism, segregation, and injustice while showcasing the strength and resilience of the human spirit. Goldberg and Spacek deliver exceptional performances, portraying two very different women who are brought together by the struggle for civil rights. The film also features a powerful score by composer George Fenton and beautiful cinematography by Roger Deakins.

Overall, The Long Walk Home is a must-see film that continues to resonate with audiences today, reminding us of the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of adversity.

The Long Walk Home is a 1989 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 73.