Walking Across Egypt

Walking Across Egypt is a 1999 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by veteran director Arthur Allan Seidelman and written by Paul Tamasy, based on Clyde Edgerton's novel of the same name. Walking Across Egypt represents one of the more significant independent films produced in the Florida film industry in recent times.

Plot

The film follows the life of Mattie Rigsbee (Ellen Burstyn), an elderly woman who believes in strong religious convictions. The film explores the lonely qualities of life for senior citizens after their children leave as adults. Judge Reinhold and Gail O'Grady play Mattie's children who live in a deep southern town.

Mattie soon finds a likable friend in the local dogcatcher, Lamar Benfield (Mark Hamill). It is through this relationship in which she meets the dogcatcher's nephew, a troubled, foul-mouthed, orphaned juvenile delinquent, Wesley (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), currently serving time in juvenile detention for a recent car theft. Mattie finds that this young man is just missing direction and believes that with a little insight on Christianity he can straighten up and fly right.

Cast

• Ellen Burstyn as Mattie Rigsbee
• Jonathan Taylor Thomas as Wesley Benfield
• Mark Hamill as Lamar N. Benfield
• Pat Corley as Sheriff Tillman
• Edward Herrmann as Reverend Vernon
• Dana Ivey as Beatrice Vernon
• Harve Presnell as Finner
• Gwen Verdon as Alora
• Gail O'Grady as Elaine Rigsbee
• Judge Reinhold as Robert Rigsbee

Production

Walking Across Egypt was filmed in the Florida cities of: Ocoee (including the Ocoee Christian Church), Clermont, Windermere, Orlando, and St. Cloud.

Reception

77% of the audience liked the film on Rotten Tomatoes.^[1]

References

External links

• Walking Across Egypt at the Internet Movie Database
• Walking Across Egypt at AllMovie
• Walking Across Egypt at Rotten Tomatoes
• Cinemascreen UK Review
• Nashville Scene