Set against the picturesque landscape of the Mississippi Delta in the
1940's, "The Rising Place" follows the close friendship of two young
women, each of a different race, and their struggle to find purpose
in their lives during this time of social injustice and world
war.

When Virginia visits her Aunt Millie at Christmas, she discovers a
stack of handwritten letters over a half century old, and unlocks the
story of her aunt's youthful days as a young woman living in
Hamilton, Mississippi, during the second World War. Beautifully shot
sequences episodically shift back and forth from the past to the
present.

In a time when a woman's place was in the home, young Emily ventures
out and falls in love with a young soldier, eventually carrying his
baby out of wedlock. With the support of her best friend Wilma Watson
and their draft-dodging companion Will Bacon, Emily is able to stand
by her convictions in a household dominated by the standards of a
salt-of-the-earth father and an unconditionally loving mother.

Despite the disapproval of society, Emily follows her heart to
overcome the prejudice of her time. MASON GAMBLE plays Melvina's son
Franklin.

With a respectable ensemble cast and original songs by JENNIFER
HOLLIDAY, THE RISING PLACE is a poignant period drama about
friendship that defies social boundaries, a devotion that can't be
broken, and a courage unlike any other.

What the media say:
1. "Beautifully shot sequences..." THE BOSTON GLOBE
2. "The Rising Place has it's heart in the right place." DALLAS
OBSERVER
3. "Tender, touching, and superbly acted." JEFFREY LYONS,
WNBC

This film is a testament to society's need for tolerance and
acceptance for those who are different, but moreso, it explores the
complex layers of relationships, focusing primarily on each
character's longing for hope and humanity. The ambient persecution,
for instance, only strengthens the bond between the two girls,
but at home, forces Emily's family to explore their differences.
While her mother proves to be more embracing, Emily's father
struggles with his understanding of unconditional love as he
desperately tries to lead his family with the values of a generation
past. Every character has a unique desire for respect and happiness,
and "The Rising Place" stands for the epipheny each character has as
they seek out their purpose in life.

Throughout her journey, Emily doesn't fight any physical battles, and
never even so much as stands on a soapbox, but she remains her own
individual, teaching by example, and in some regards, is a woman
ahead of her time. This is the story of her life, and we would all
be so lucky as to have a soul as pure and passionate as hers.

Mason Gamble flew back and forth to Jackson, Mississippi, USA for his
role in "The Rising Palace" while filming "Anya's Bell" in Salt Lake
city, USA.