In a riveting debut performance, Nicole Beharie captures your heart and soul in 'American Violet,' which is based on a true story.

In addition to an ensemble that includes Alfre Woodard, Xzibit, Will Patton, Charles Dutton and Michael O'Keefe,the film is a compelling, moving tale that inspires hope to many youths today.

Beharie plays Dee Roberts, a single mother of four living in a Texas housing project. While she's working at a diner one day, the community where she lives at is stormed by cops during a drug raid. Many residents are arrested and placed in a van, and then Dee is later picked up on the suspicion of being a drug dealer. When her mother (Woodard) tries to get her to take a plea to get out of jail, she decided to fight back the system and prove her innocence through the aid of a former assistant DA (Patton) and an ACLU lawyer (Tim Blake Nelson).

Not only is she dealing with going up against law enforcement, but she also has to worry about losing her kids when her ex wants to take them away from her.

The injustice that innocent African Americans face in this country doesn't get the exposure that it should be. Not everyone has the capital or resources to find good attorneys to believe in them and fight back. Either they go to jail and become another person claiming to be innocent, or they are part of the few that stand against the tyranny of abuse of power.

While the ending is predicable being that it's a matter of public record, the story of how it began and was played out is what keeps the audience intrigued.

This is not only an entertaining film, but rather an informative one.

In casting Beharie, we have a fresh face who becomes the character and not just some actress playing a role.

Woodard, as always, is splendid as the voice of reason. O'Keefe played the racist DA to such a convincing degree, you would have left the theater asking if he was really acting or not.

'American Violet' is an inspirational story that all should see not only for the performance given by the ensemble but for the way the American system can correct itself.