We watched “Walking Across Egypt” tonight. It’s a touching story of Mattie Rigsbee, an aging widow who’s decided to send the stray dog to the pound. She’d be more likely to be found ‘walking across Egypt’ than take in a stray at her time of life. She doesn’t count on the change of heart that comes as she is befriended by a teenage boy who’s escaped from the penitentiary (prison for boys).
The story is based in North Carolina and so is rich with Southern accents. Mattie’s a member of the local Baptist church and comes into conflict with the local preacher and his wife when she starts putting his sermons into practice. She also clashes with her own adult children. When Mattie refers to Jesus calling her to love the least, her daughter asks if Jesus ever said when to stop. The answer is ‘no’.
The film is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Clyde Egerton. It was directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman, produced by Bettina O’Mara and Heath McLaughlin of Mitchum Entertainment in 1998, with most of the filming in Windermere, Florida. Script was written by Paul Tamasy. The film was made for less than $5 million dollars and was not released widely at theatres.
Ellen Burstyn provides an excellent performance as Mattie. Mark Hamill plays Lamar the local dog catcher. Jonathon Taylor Thomas plays Wesley, the teenage nephew of Lamar. Judge Reinhold and Gail O’Grady play Mattie’s son and daughter.
The film has overtones of The Spitfire Grill (also starring Burstyn) and On Golden Pond. There’s a strong feel of the Prodigal Son and plenty of overt Biblical references.