After a family tragedy, a racist prison guard re-examines his attitudes while falling in love with the African-American wife of the last prisoner he executed.After a family tragedy, a racist prison guard re-examines his attitudes while falling in love with the African-American wife of the last prisoner he executed.After a family tragedy, a racist prison guard re-examines his attitudes while falling in love with the African-American wife of the last prisoner he executed.
- Won 1 Oscar
- 15 wins & 23 nominations total
Yasiin Bey
- Ryrus Cooper
- (as Mos Def)
Sean 'Diddy' Combs
- Lawrence Musgrove
- (as Sean Combs)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn a 2009 interview with Monster's Ball producer Lee Daniels, he revealed that Wes Bentley did not actually turn down the role of Sonny Grotowski, as was reported at the time. What actually happened was that Bentley committed to the role but then pulled out at the very last minute, and Lionsgate gave them only 48 hours to find a replacement (who turned out to be Heath Ledger). In 2010, Bentley admitted that his erratic, unpredictable, and unreliable behavior throughout much of the 2000s had been caused by a longstanding addiction to heroin and other drugs. Ironically, Ledger himself died from an overdose of drugs.
- GoofsThroughout the movie there are conflicting references to its being set in Louisiana, Mississippi, or Georgia although the movie was filmed entirely in Louisiana.
- Quotes
Sonny Grotowski: You hate me. You hate me, don't you? Answer me! You hate me don't you!
Hank Grotowski: Yes, I hate you. Always have.
Sonny Grotowski: Well I've always loved you.
- Crazy creditsThanks to Sam, Austin, Gabrielle. Scott Lambert is thanked twice.
- Alternate versionsThe initial cut of the picture included more explicit footage during the sex scene between Halle Berry and Billy Bob Thornton, which was trimmed down after the MPAA threatened to give the film a NC-17 rating. The uncut version premiered at the Berlin Film Festival on February 8, 2001. The R-rated US theatrical release is the cut version; the version released theatrically in Canada and most other countries is the uncut version.
- SoundtracksBroken Up and Blue
(1998)
Performed by Red Meat
Written by Jill Olson
Published by Olson Girl Publishing (ASCAP)
Administered by Bug Music, Inc.
Courtesy of Ranchero Records
Featured review
Sad, thoughtful, and intelligent
The theme of this movie includes racism (without cliches though), generational gap, and healing after tragedy. It is a heavy and sad film, with a very thoughtful and intelligent script, which was nominated for an Oscar. The performances of both leads, especially Halle Berry's, are stunning. She won an Oscar for that, the first and only one so far for African-American actresses. But I think the movie would be better without the sex scenes, as that transient physical feeling cannot heal spiritual wounds anyway.
- LawrenceofAsia
- Nov 27, 2021
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- El pasado nos condena
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $4,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $31,273,922
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $110,552
- Dec 30, 2001
- Gross worldwide
- $45,011,434
- Runtime1 hour 51 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
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