A Lesson Before Dying

This compelling production of Ernest Gaines' best-seller and National Book Critics Circle Award-winner (not to mention Oprah selection) has been nominated for seven Emmy Awards. Nominee Don Cheadle confirms his status as one of the screen's most versatile character actors as Grant Wiggins, a teacher in 1948 Louisiana, who is compelled by the mother of a convicted murderer to visit her son in jail. Irma P. Hall (A Family Thing) is magnificent as Miss Emma, who is determined that her falsely accused son Jefferson (Mekhi Phifer), denigrated at his trial as "a thing" by his own defense attorney, at least "die a man." Wiggins is reluctant. "A white man has been killed and a colored boy has to die for it," he states. He sees no point in trying to "change him in the little time he has left." But he is stirred to become Jefferson's champion, urging him to "show the difference between what they think you are and what you can be." Hollywood studios could learn something from this profoundly moving made-for-cable Lesson. Highly recommended. (K. Lee Benson)