Sounder1972Sounder
1972
In 1933 rural Louisiana, a Black sharecropping family struggles through hard times. When the father, Nathan, is jailed for taking meat to feed them, his son David Lee sets out with the family dog to find the work camp where he's being held.
For older children: stronger profanity, sexual content, or heavy themes that Common Sense Media rates 10–12, best watched with a parent.
Why it’s here
A dignified, loving family under injustice, with a mother's strength and a father's love.
Context notes
For parents, before you press play.
Nathan steals to feed his family and is harshly sentenced; the film shows his love and the cost, so it's worth talking about stealing and injustice. A deputy shoots the dog, a guard injures the boy's hand, and demeaning racial language is used; "damn," "hell," "bastards."
Sounder (1972)
Discussion questions
When the credits end, go around the room. Each person gives the film a score out of ten and says why.
- Why did Nathan take the meat? What did it cost?
- How did Rebecca keep the family going?
- What did David Lee learn from the teacher?
- How was the family treated unfairly?
Content advisory
Common Sense Media 12+: a deputy shoots and nearly kills the dog; a guard injures a boy's hand; "bastards," "damn," "hell"; racial slurs in historical context.
Best edition
The disc comes first.
Sounder (1972)
DVD · November 25, 2008
Blu-ray listed on Blu-ray.com (release date unconfirmed)
Edition link coming soon.
Listing on Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)Coming later
Where to stream
Streaming services are not listed yet. When they are, this note stays secondary to the disc.