Akeelah, a gifted Black girl blessed with exceptional intelligence, comes under the guidance of a former teacher who recognizes her great talent for an upcoming English spelling bee. The film is full of expressions of friendship, camaraderie, mutual support, kindness, and sincerity.

Akeelah grows up in a family with her mother and two siblings. She lost her father when he was shot on the street on his way home. The loss of her father is evident in the paths the children in the family take.

Her devoted mother tries to fill her father’s role in the family, but in many ways, the situation is spiraling out of her control. Through the loss of her loving father, Akeelah learns to cope by spelling words.

She develops her talent, which is later discovered by her teachers at school. Dr. Larabee even sees great potential in her to win a national competition.

Drama / Family

USA, 2006, 112 min

Crew: Doug Atchison

Cast: Keke Palmer, Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, Curtis Armstrong, J.R. Villarreal, Sean Michael Afable, Sahara Garey, Lee Thompson Young, Erica Hubbard, Eddie Steeples, Tzi Ma

Parents’ Guide

A few scenes with a slightly low-cut neckline or tight-fitting clothing. Two kisses on the cheek between Akeela and her friend.

A few offensive remarks in Black slang at the beginning of the film.

Akeela’s sister is a single mother. A few instances of disrespectful behavior by children toward teachers at the beginning of the film. A perfectionist father who is strict and cold and places excessively high demands on his son.

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