White Man's Burden

White Man's Burden Information

White Man's Burden is a 1995 dramatic film about racism in an alternative America where black and white Americans have reversed cultural roles.

The film revolves around Louis Pinnock, a white factory worker (John Travolta), who kidnaps Thaddeus Thomas, a black factory owner (Harry Belafonte) who fired him over a perceived slight.

The film was written and directed by Desmond Nakano.

Tagline: Two men at odds in a world turned upside down.

Plot

Louis Pinnock (John Travolta) is a struggling urban factory worker. In this alternative reality, it is a large underclass of white Americans who live in rundown, crime-infested ghettos and face prejudice from the broader society, while the comfortable middle and upper class is predominantly black.

In an effort to go above and beyond in his position (hoping to become a foreman soon), in the candy factory in which he works, Pinnock delivers a package for his boss, to successful (CEO) Thaddeus Thomas (Harry Belafonte). After Pinnock accidentally sees Thomas's wife coming out of the shower, he is subsequently fired, beaten up by the police and forced to watch his family evicted. In a radical quest for justice, Pinnock kidnaps Thomas, which forces the two men to bond, as well as argue over race relations and the roots of social inequality.

Cast

John Travolta as Louis Pinnock
Harry Belafonte as Thaddeus Thomas
Kelly Lynch as Marsha Pinnock
Margaret Avery as Megan Thomas
Tom Bower as Stanley
Andrew Lawrence as Donnie Pinnock
Bumper Robinson as Martin
Tom Wright as Lionel
Sheryl Lee Ralph as Roberta
Judith Drake as Dorothy
Robert Gossett as John
Wesley Thompson as Williams
Tom Nolan as Johansson
Willie C. Carpenter as Marcus
Michael Beach as a policeman

Reception

The movie gained a mixed to negative reception from movie critics.

The movie was not a box office success.

White Man's Burden

White Man's Burden Information

Plot

Cast

Reception

See also