讲述了一个非洲裔美国人家族的故事，他们在南部的一个离岸岛屿上生活了很多年，以及他们在1902年的某一天聚集在一起，为即将前往北方的一些人庆祝他们的祖先。电影由一个未出生的孩子叙述，已故的祖先似乎与活着的人一样存在。

Matt Ballot has returned home after 12 years of hard-drinking in all 48 states. His wife has managed to raise their 14-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son nicely without his help. Matt is considered a disgrace to the town he came from and now he finds himself trying to win the love of his children, his wife, and the respect of the townspeople. Set in Arkansas in the 1920s.