Sounder is a true-to-life portrayal of the bonds of love that strengthen family ties in good times and bad. The story centers on a family of sharecroppers living in Louisiana in the midst of the Depression. This close-knit African-American family experiences great hardship and discrimination. After stealing some food to feed his starving children, the father is sent away to prison. In spite of this loss, the family pulls together to bring in the harvest crop without the father. The key to the family’s survival is the love and respect its members give to each other. The heavy themes of injustice and discrimination are in the background so as not to dominate the fundamental story of decency and family love. The film teaches that perseverance, determination and the willingness to work together play a vital role in overcoming the injustices and hardships of life.

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