The Lena Baker Story
Encyclopedia
Hope & Redemption: The Lena Baker Story is a 2008
film adaptation of the book by Lela Bond Phillips that chronicles the life and death of Lena Baker
. It was written for the screen and directed by Ralph Wilcox
. It was the sold out opening night premiere film for the 2008 Atlanta Film Festival
. The film was also screened at the Cannes Film Festival
on May 16, 2008.
in Georgia
for the murder of her employer, Ernest Knight, an abusive drunk who forced her into a sexual relationship.
2008 in film
This is a list of all major films made in 2008.-Highest-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2008...
film adaptation of the book by Lela Bond Phillips that chronicles the life and death of Lena Baker
Lena Baker
Lena Baker was an African American maid who was executed for murder by the State of Georgia in 1945 for killing her employer, Ernest Knight, 67, in 1944. At her trial she claimed that he had imprisoned and threatened to shoot her should she attempt to leave, whereupon she took his gun and shot him...
. It was written for the screen and directed by Ralph Wilcox
Ralph Wilcox (actor)
Ralph Wilcox is an African American actor born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin who has appeared in movies and television shows dating back to the 70's. Some of his most memorable roles include "Jammin' Jim" Jenkins on the Emerald Cove segments of The Mickey Mouse Club, Mason Freeman in seaQuest 2032 and...
. It was the sold out opening night premiere film for the 2008 Atlanta Film Festival
Atlanta Film Festival
The Atlanta Film Festival is an Academy Award qualifying, international film festival held in Atlanta, Georgia. Started in 1976 and occurring every April, the festival shows a diverse range of independent films, including genre films such as horror and sci-fi...
. The film was also screened at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
on May 16, 2008.
Plot
The film chronicles of the life of Lena Baker, a young maid and mother of three who was the only woman to be sent to the electric chairElectric chair
Execution by electrocution, usually performed using an electric chair, is an execution method originating in the United States in which the condemned person is strapped to a specially built wooden chair and electrocuted through electrodes placed on the body...
in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
for the murder of her employer, Ernest Knight, an abusive drunk who forced her into a sexual relationship.
Cast
- Tichina ArnoldTichina ArnoldTichina Rolanda Arnold is an American actress and singer. She is best known for having portrayed the roles of Pamela James on the FOX sitcom Martin and the family matriarch Rochelle on the UPN/CW sitcom Everybody Hates Chris....
as Lena Baker - Peter CoyotePeter CoyotePeter Coyote is an American actor, author, director, screenwriter and narrator of films, theatre, television and audio books. His voice work includes narrating the opening ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympics and Apple's iPad campaign. He has also served as on-camera co-host of the 2000 Oscar...
as Ernest Arthur - Michael RookerMichael RookerMichael Rooker is an American actor.-Early life:Rooker, who has eight brothers and sisters, was born in Jasper, Alabama and studied at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago, where he moved with his mother and siblings at the age of thirteen, after his parents divorced.-Movie career:He made his...
as Randolph County Sheriff - Beverly ToddBeverly ToddBeverly Todd is an American actress, producer and writer. Todd gained major work during the 1970s, appearing in notable films such as The Lost Man , They Call Me MISTER Tibbs! , Brother John and A Piece of the Action . This eventually led to other distinguished and more important work...
as Lena's Mother - Randy McDowellRandy McDowellRandy McDowell is an American film and television actor, best known for playing Gene Smith in the CBS miniseries Elvis....
as Lyle Jacobs - Tom HuffTom HuffThomas Elmer Huff was a best-selling American author of 23 gothic and romance novels as T. E. Huff and Tom E. Huff and under the female pen names Edwina Marlow, Beatrice Parker, Katherine St...
as Ken Thomas - L. Warren Young as Milton
- Ron Clinton SmithRon Clinton Smith-Filmography:*Life as We Know It *Lottery Ticket * The Joneses *Hallmark Hall of Fame *The Family That Preys * The Mist *We Are Marshall *Broken Bridges *One Tree Hill*Warm Springs...
- Dwayne Boyd
- Santana Shelton as Nettie
- Kaya Camp as Young Lena Baker
- Kenny Cook as Barry Arthur