O Brother, Where Art Thou? is loosely based on Homer’s epic The Odyssey.
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| Odysseus, the main character from The Odyssey, on his ship surrounded by sirens. |
It deals with Ulysses Everett McGill and his wayward quest back home to his family. Set in rural 1937 Mississippi during the thick of the depression, McGill and two friends escape from a chain gang in hopes of recovering the loot from an armored car robbery. Along the way Everett, Pete, and Delmar are pursued mercilessly by law enforcement bent on sending the boys back to prison. They are advised by a blind prophet riding the rails who tells them that they will find a great treasure though it is not the treasure that they seek.
While on the run they avoid the law a number of times by clever thinking and fast talking. On their journey they come by a radio station run by a blind man. They were told the man pays cash money to sing in a “can” a (recording study). They stopped and sang in the mans can for ten dollars a piece. They called themselves the Soggy Bottom Boys and the song was named “A Man of Constant Sorrow”. Little did they know, the song became a hit!
The three men continue running from the law and end up in Everett’s home town. Everett convinces his friends to help him win back his wife during a political campaign dinner for governor nominee Stokes. The men disguised themselves a musicians and took stage. While on stage they perform their song A Man of Constant Sorrow and the crowd roars with excitement. Sitting governor Pappy O’Daniel takes the opportunity and endorses the Soggy Bottom Boys granting full pardons from any prior crimes. The movie concludes showing Everett back together with his wife and family, and the blind man on his rail way handcart singing.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? was filmed and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. The film was nominated for two academy awards in 2000.
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| The released cover of the movie. |
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| The three main characters, to be introduced on "Character Profiles" page. |
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| Important scene from the movie, to be introduced in Social Studies activities. |
