

92 minutes
6/1/1996
John is a man of many talents, including one forbidden skill: he can read. When he teaches a young slave girl named Sarny to read and write, she learns an unforgettable lesson about the power of words and the true meaning of freedom.

Beau Bridges
as Clel Waller

Carl Lumbly
as Nightjohn

Bill Cobbs
as Old man

Kathleen York
as Callie Waller

Gabriel Casseus
as Outlaw

Tom Nowicki
as Dr. Chamberlain
Joel Traywick
as Jeff Waller
Allison Jones
as Sarny
Patty Mack
as Evelyn
Deborah Duke
as Lethe

Danny Nelson
as Reverend Osee Rush
Monica Ford
as Egypt
Gerald Brown
as Joseph
Robin Michelle McClamb
as Sarnys Mother (as Robin McLamb-Vaughn)
Steven Sutherland
as Alan Bowen

Shannon Eubanks
as Fanny Bowen
John P. Ford III
as Arthur Waller
John Herina
as Homer Waller

Jordan Williams
as James G. Waller
Bill Gribble
as Tom - Slave Trader

Bruce Evers
as Patroller #1
James Mayberry
as Patroller #2
Antwan Isaac
as Young Man
Alecia I. Gainey
as Sarny (age 4)

Lorraine Toussaint
as Dealey