Raisin in the Sun

Movie / Show Details

Lorraine Hansberry’s classic play comes to life in this 2008 television drama directed by Kenny Leon. The Younger family, living on Chicago’s South Side in the 1950s, faces a pivotal moment when their father’s death leaves them with a $10,000 life insurance inheritance. As Walter, Ruth, Beneatha, and their mother Lena each envision different uses for the money, their conflicting dreams and ambitions threaten to fracture the family bond. Audra McDonald, Phylicia Rashad, David Oyelowo, Bill Nunn, and John Stamos anchor this ensemble cast in a story that explores how poverty, aspiration, and racial struggle shape the choices ordinary people must make.

This single-disc DVD from ABC runs two hours and eleven minutes and carries a PG-13 rating. Originally adapted from an acclaimed stage production, the film opens up the theatrical material to include multiple locations while maintaining the emotional depth of Hansberry’s work. Own this powerful adaptation of a play that remains deeply relevant to American life and continues to speak across generations.