A true-life drug raid, which ended up making a single mother (played by Nicole Beharie) a scapegoat of the Texas district attorney (Michael O'Keefe) who ordered the operation, sparks this intense drama.

Tim Blake Nelson ("O Brother, Where Art Thou?"), Malcolm Barrett and Will Patton play the lawyers who try to dismantle the system that brings the woman to trial; Alfre Woodard portrays her mother in a cast that also includes Xzibit and Paul Guilfoyle ("CSI: Crime Scene Investigation"). *** (PG-13: AS, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray)

Buy 'American Violet' on DVD.