The Journey of August King (1995)

Synopsis: Set amidst the lush backdrop of North Carolina and the stunning Appalachian mountains in 1815, during the time of slavery, this touching drama portrays the spiritual and physical journey of two strangers brought together in a time of crisis. When a young slave named Annalees Williamsburg... Set amidst the lush backdrop of North Carolina and the stunning Appalachian mountains in 1815, during the time of slavery, this touching drama portrays the spiritual and physical journey of two strangers brought together in a time of crisis. When a young slave named Annalees Williamsburg (Thandie Newton) escapes from tyrannical plantation owner Olaf Singletary (Larry Drake), her only hope for freedom is August King (Jason Patric). King, a widower, has come into town to pick up supplies when the two encounter each other. Although he knows that harboring a runaway slave is a serious crime, the moralistic King hides Annalees in his wagon and sneaks her back to his farm. This brave and decent act, however, puts the pair in peril, because the vicious Singletary will stop at nothing to get his hands on Annalees. The spirited Analees re-awakens the conscience of the grieving widower when he is faced with the moral dilemma of returning Analees to her master, who is offering a handsome reward for her head, or helping the young woman in her quest for freedom. [More]