Film Overview"Resting Place" is an American tv film that aired in 1986. Directed by John Korty and written by Walter Halsey Davis, the film starred John Lithgow, Richard Bradford, Morgan Freeman, and C.C.H. Pounder. The film concentrates on the styles of military service, racial prejudice, and the pursuit of fact.
PlotEmbed in the late 1970s, the film focuses on Major Kendall Laird, a military officer serving in the army's casualty notification section played by John Lithgow. The story begins when he is designated to deliver the sad news of the death of Private Leroy Fisk to his moms and dads, but quickly discovers himself captured up in a racial controversy associated to the soldier's burial.
The soldier, Leroy Fisk, an embellished Vietnam War veteran and Medal of Honor recipient, is African American, and his parents live in a small Georgia town where the segregationist attitude is still widespread. They want to bury their kid in the local cemetery which is traditionally for whites only. The white community, led by an influential businessman called Spottswood, refuses to let Fisk be buried there supposedly due to his dishonorable personal past, however it's more a reflection of their bigotry.
Dispute and ResolutionSignificant Kendall is disrupted by this unreasonable treatment and becomes deeply associated with dealing with the issue. He seeks the aid of a regional African-American army veteran Willis Bedford, represented by Morgan Freeman, in navigating this racially divided society. Bedford offers insight into the town's beliefs and assists Kendall to discover Fisk's past and his service to the armed force.
As Kendall begins investigating Fisk's past, he starts breaking down the initial story of Fisk as an unethical person and exposes Spottswood's attempt at tainting Fisk's credibility to justify his biased position. In spite of the opposition and danger presented to him by the resentful white neighborhood, Kendall is determined about guaranteeing that Fisk gets the regard he deserves.
ConclusionAfter much battle, Major Kendall manages to get authorization to have Fisk buried in the "white" cemetery. The movie ends on a sobering note as Fisk's coffin is reduced into the ground. Kendall effectively guarantees that a brave black soldier is provided the very same respect as any other American soldier, marking a small success versus racial bias.
Styles and Reception"Resting Place" deftly manages the issues of bigotry, patriotism, and morality. It explores the contrast in between a soldier's sacrifice for the country and the contemptuous treatment he gets from the very individuals he risked his life to protect. The movie got crucial acclaim for its sincere depiction of bigotry in the American South and the battles for equality during the post-Vietnam War age. Lithgow provided an outstanding performance as Major Kendall, depicting the character's moral courage and commitment to justice extremely convincingly. Morgan Freeman's portrayal of Bedford too was praised for its depth and subtlety. In general, "Resting Place" stands as a poignant reminder of a tormented duration in America's history.
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