Documentary filmmaker and Rolling Fork native William “Willy” Bearden will premiere his first narrative feature film in six cities throughout Mississippi. “One Came Home” will premiere at Malco Theater in Columbus Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m.
The film is set in Mississippi in 1946 and details events in the Hodges family”s grief-stricken life when a war buddy of their own fallen son and brother comes from New York to visit and pay his respects.
“”One Came Home” is a story that is close to my heart,” said Bearden. “It has its basis in my own family”s history, as my own grandmother tried to come to terms with my uncle Murphy Wright”s death only a few weeks before the end of the war in Europe.”
According to Bearden: “We were blessed to have an incredible cast and crew, all drawn from the ranks of great Memphis talent.” Veteran TV and film actor Corey Parker, with credits ranging from “Biloxi Blues” to “West Wing,” stars as John Mazilli. Memphis actor, stage director and Rhodes College drama teacher Julia “Cookie” Ewing portrays the family matriarch, Grace Hodges, with Bearden”s daughter, Savannah, taking the role of Savannah Hodges, sister to the fallen soldier. Memphis actor Hailey Giles plays the role of Murphy Hodges” widow, Hope.
Bearden said, “We knew that we wanted to make a film in the South, from Southern writers and with great Memphis talent that represented the city”s talent on a national level.”
“One Came Home” was chosen as the closing night feature at the On Location Memphis Film Festival, and played for three weeks at Malco”s Studio on the Square in Memphis, Tenn.
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