Rivers Wash Over Me

Rivers Wash Over Me
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	John G. Young
Written by	John G. Young Darien Sills-Evans
Produced by	Darien Sills-Evans Dexter Davis
Starring	Derrick L. Middleton Aidan Schultz-Meyer Elizabeth Dennis Darien Sills-Evans Cameron Mitchell Mason Duane McLaughlin Pamela Holden Stewart
Cinematography	Robert Ansbro
Edited by	Steven Thomas
Music by	Kenneth Lampl
Production company	D Street Pictures
Distributed by	Strand Releasing
Release date	June 6, 2009 (2009-06-06)
Running time	87 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Rivers Wash Over Me is a 2009 drama film directed by John G. Young. ^{[1] [2] [3]} Young shares the screenplay with Darien Sills-Evans. The film was produced by Sills-Evans, with Dexter Davis as executive producer. ^{[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]}

Plot

The film touches on race relations, incest, drugs, and growing up gay in the American South. A recent New York City transplant, Sequan Greene (Derrick L. Middleton) has been sent to live in Alabama after the recent death of his mother. ^[10] He is brutally raped by his cousin Michael Wilis (Cameron Mitchell Mason). It becomes clear that Michael also is gay - a victim as well as a victimizer. He says, "I can’t be a faggot ...You’re the faggot. You’re my faggot." Sequan is also bullied and beaten up at school.

Sequan soon finds a friend in Lori Anderson (Elizabeth Dennis), the girlfriend of drug dealer/basketball player Ahmed Robins (Duane McLaughlin). Lori is the town's "bad girl" who has a heart of gold. Although she freebases, snorts coke throughout the school day, steals guns and sleeps with the town basketball star, she is immediately taken by admiration of Sequan and his brazen nonconformity. Despite Sequan's unwillingness, Lori manages to befriend him, bringing him out of his shell and eventually introducing him to both moonshine and her gay brother, Jake (Aidan Schultz-Meyer). ^[11]

Cast

• Derrick L. Middleton as Sequan Greene
• Aidan Schultz-Meyer as Jake Anderson
• Elizabeth Dennis as Lori Anderson
• Darien Sills-Evans as Charles King
• Cameron Mitchell Mason as Michael Willis
• Duane McLaughlin as Ahmed Robins
• Pamela Holden Stewart as Alice
• Julia Carothers Hughes as Celeste Anderson
• Terrance Epps as Coach Williams
• Tina Jetter as Charity
• Leslie Jones as LuEllen
• Paul Kelly as Mr. Hack
• Alain Lauture as Skinny Tim Buchanan
• Sonequa Martin as Shawna King
• Conor Romero as Billy
• Xosha Roquemore as Racine Buchanan
• Chester A. Sims II as Mayor Rickets
• Don Striano as Tom Lemmings
• Damian Washington as Dwayne
• Eric Watson Williams as Deputy Lewis Ratch

References

1. Flemmer, Willy. "Wasser und Blut - 2009". www.filmreporter.de (in German). Retrieved 2025-11-12.
2. "John G. Young". www.purchase.edu. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
3. "NewFest Celebrates 21st Festival at SVA Theater". Made in NY - Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting. 2009-06-01. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
4. "Wasser und Blut". www.filmdienst.de (in German). Retrieved 2025-11-12.
5. Scheib, Ronnie (2009-06-26). "Rivers Wash Over Me". Variety. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
6. Eldredge, Richard L. (2010-05-04). ""Rivers Wash Over Me," scores film distribution deal, new screening in Atlanta". Atlanta Magazine. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
7. Williams, Albert (2009-11-12). "Reeling: The Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
8. Kennedy, Lisa (2010-06-23). "CinemaQ, DocuWest make for a reel pairing". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
9. Levy, Emmanuel (2010-11-25). "Rivers Wash Over Me: John Young's Drama of Black Teenager". emanuellevy.com. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
10. "Rivers Wash Over Me, May 15, 2010 | Boston LGBT Film Festival 2010". www.queer.film. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
11. "The Rivers Wash Over Me". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2025-11-12.

External links

• Rivers Wash Over Me at IMDb
• Trailer on YouTube