Ballast
2008 · Movie · NR · 96 min · ★ 7.1 · 89% critics
In a small Mississippi Delta town, a single mother and her troubled son fight to get by day to day. After a violent incident, their lives collide with a grieving store owner, stirring up old resentments and pushing everyone toward a difficult reckoning.
Where to watch
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
2 hours to watch.
Stream (included)
Streaming availability and prices may be inaccurate or change — verify with the provider before subscribing.
unSUB's subscription recommendations are informational only, not financial advice.
More value for your money
Similar titles, ranked by watch-hours per subscription dollar.
Details
- Years
- 2008
- Release date
- 2008-10-01
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 96 min
- Critic score
- 89/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.1/10 (31 votes)
About
You may like this if you want a quiet, intense drama about grief, survival, and simmering community tensions; Not for you if you prefer fast pacing, clear-cut heroes, or lighter stories like Dean Spanley.
Pros: raw emotional realism; tense small-town conflict; strong character focus | Cons: slow-burning pace; heavy subject matter; minimal plot momentum
Themes
- dying and death
- suicide
- single parent
- loss of loved one
- gun
- lawyer
Awards & recognition
- Sundance U.S. Directing Award: Dramatic · 2008
Cast & crew
- MS
Micheal J. Smith Sr.
as Lawrence
- JR
JimMyron Ross
as James
Tarra Riggs
as Marlee
Johnny McPhail
as John
- VB
Ventress Bonner
as Teen
Jimez Alexander
as Teen
Directed by Lance Hammer