Mississippi Burning (18)

Alan Parker’s searing depiction of racial injustice in the Deep South is driven by one of Gene Hackman’s most commanding performances.

Set in a 1960s America still fractured by deep-rooted racism, the story follows two FBI agents; seasoned and streetwise Anderson (Hackman) and idealistic newcomer Ward (Willem Dafoe). As they investigate the disappearance of three civil rights workers in a small Mississippi town, what begins as a search for answers quickly reveals a web of violence, fear, and institutionalised racism that demands far more than procedure.

Parker doesn’t soften the material, instead leaning into the rage and sorrow at its core. Hackman, portraying a man shaped by the South yet unwilling to accept its violence, gives a performance full of tension and complexity. Dafoe's calm idealism contrasts effectively, and Frances McDormand offers a quietly heartbreaking portrait of someone caught in the middle.

Though it stirred controversy for focusing on white investigators, the film sparked renewed conversations about civil rights and historical accountability. It's a gripping piece of work, one that still hits hard today, and a reminder of Hackman's rare ability to channel conscience into character without flinching