I don't know much about production and direction, but I do know that the direction these actors were under was by my standards, superb. The director had to have been someone with deep experiences from both the black and white cultures. How else could they be so in touch with the separate emotions required to resonate so positively with moviegoers. I speak for a lot of ladies. There were 7 of us at the debut last night. With all of the different personalities and character traits between us, there was not one negative short fall mentioned. Go Mr. Perry!