The Burial

The Burial, directed by Steven Soderbergh, is an intense and gripping drama that revolves around the story of Jeremiah O'Keefe, the proprietor of a long-standing funeral home business. Jeremiah's world is turned upside down when he is betrayed by a business partner, who had essentially hollowed out Jeremiah's business with the help of some unscrupulous corporate investors. The devastating revelation leaves Jeremiah not only financially ruined but also emotionally shattered. With his once-respected business now hanging by a thread, Jeremiah is compelled to take drastic measures to salvage what's left of his family's legacy. With time running out, Jeremiah seeks the professional help of an astute and resourceful attorney, Willie E. Gary. If the name Willie E. Gary seems familiar, it is because the real-life attorney served as an inspiration for Gary Oliver's character in the film, portrayed by Woody McClain. Born and raised in the racially segregated North Carolina town in the 1970s, Willie Gary drew upon personal experiences, persevering through an upbringing caught in the turmoil of racial conflict to excel as a skilled and dedicated civil rights attorney, famous for his involvement with class-action suits. Gary's no-nonsense approach, paired with his gift for public speaking, makes him the obvious choice for taking on Jeremiah's high-stakes legal battle. The initial rapport between the embattled funeral home owner and the enterprising attorney is tentative, with Jeremiah trying to get a sense of whether Willie Gary truly has the expertise to tackle the corporate giant's formidable defense. Gary's charismatic demeanor gradually helps win over Jeremiah, who starts to see him as a trusted ally rather than just his attorney. This unique bond sparks various conversational tidbits that the men allow to linger and delve deeper into their lives, each one inadvertently exposing painful histories and prejudices. It soon becomes apparent that Jeremiah's family business was initially built by his ancestors, who faced fierce resistance from adversaries wielding institutional racism during the Civil Rights Movement. This personal history weighs on Jeremiah, putting his mind at ease when faced with Gary's determined demeanor to seek justice on his family's behalf. Meanwhile, Gary reveals fragments from his own childhood, touching upon racist encounters that fueled his relentless pursuit to dismantle stereotypes associated with racial bias. As both Jeremiah and Willie form an unusually close bond, their fight against injustice intensifies. They delve into each case file meticulously, leaving no stone unturned. Willie uses this thorough understanding of the tangled web of corruption to demonstrate his trustworthiness to Jeremiah. Unfaltering determination fuels the legal duo as their investigative voyage leads them down dark alleys, fueled by innumerable lies and backfiring schemes that raise the stakes for this uphill battle. Throughout this gripping film, conversations bounce back and forth between Jeremiah's past and Willie's ever-looming emotional demons, reflecting the ever-present tension surrounding their fight. Unwavering passion in combination with an admirable degree of humor, each unwavering conversation enhances the dynamic relationships of Jeremiah's real-life storylines that help weave the narrative of justice within this gut-wrenching story. From crumbling small businesses ruined by unsavory business practices, racial injustice that hangs over families, and men banding together for defiance against insurmountable oppression, 'The Burial' does its part to immortalize humanity's potential to rise from shattered remnants.