Hola What’s Hot Fam,
I think we’re going to need our tissues for this one! ‘A Thousand and One’ is set in New York City and “follows unapologetic and free-spirited Inez De La Paz, who kidnaps her six-year-old son Terry from the foster care system. Holding onto their secret and each other, mother and son set out to reclaim their sense of home, identity, and stability.”
Serving as writer and director A.V. Rockwell’s feature film debut, ‘A Thousand and One’ opens in 1993, when we find Inez incarcerated at Rikers Island Correctional Facility. While life clearly isn’t going smoothly for the protagonist, the viewer will come to learn that Inez is a product of New York’s foster care system herself.
Encompassing the culture and the streets of NYC, this Focus Features film jumps through the years of Inez’s life – displaying not only the challenges of motherhood but navigating life as a woman of color, who, quite frankly, has to get it out of the mud.
I’m grateful for this chance I had to honor the heroic nature of the Black women who, like Inez, were able to raise us and persevere despite how much they are overlooked.”
– A.V. Rockwell
The ‘A Thousand and One’ cast includes:
Teyana Taylor (‘Coming 2 America’, ‘Madea’s Big Happy Family’) as Inez De La Paz
Aaron Kingsley Adetola (‘Rise’) as Terry at 6 years old
Aven Courtney(‘Strive’) as Terry at 13 years old
Josiah Cross (‘King Richard’) as Terry at 17 years old
Will Catlett (‘The Devil You Know’, ‘Love Craft Country’) as Lucky
Terri Abney (‘Loving’) as Kim Jones
Delissa Reynolds (‘Bruised’) as Mrs. Jones
Amelia Workman (‘Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You’) as Anita Tucker
Adriane Lenox (‘Black Snake Moan’) as Miss Annie
Gavin Schlosser as Pea at 6 years old
Jolly Swag (‘The Equalizer’) as Pea at 13 years old
Azza El as Simone at 14 years old
Alicia Pilgrim (‘Random Acts of Flyness’) as Simone at 17 years old
Jennean Farmer (‘New Amsterdam’) as Ms. Janie/Foster Mother
Edward Staudenmayer (‘Anastasia’ – Broadway Tour) as Officer Philips
Emmy®-winning writer, producer and actor Lena Waithe’s entertainment company Hillman Grad produced the film. Waithe’s credits notably include the Showtime drama series ‘The Chi’ and the Universal film ‘Queen & Slim.’
‘A Thousand and One‘ is now in theaters!