TV REVIEWS : ‘Brother Future’ a Mind Trip of South

A shady-dealing, street-wise black youth named T.J., knocked unconscious in a Detroit car accident, takes a trip back in time to 1822, Charleston, S.C. Trapped like an animal and auctioned to the highest bidder, T.J. learns just what slavery--and manhood--mean, in “Brother Future,” a remarkable, funny and poignant “Wonderworks” family movie.

Airing at 5:30 p.m. Sunday on KCET Channel 28, the movie is a message tale about combating ignorance and pain with education and unity. It’s also terrific storytelling.

T.J. (Phill Lewis)--still in street clothes, shades and sneakers--blusters and jokes, convinced he’s dreaming. “Yo, home boy, whassup?” he asks a fellow captive.

But humor deserts T.J. on the auction block; he’s speechless with rage and humiliation. Soon T.J.’s hands bleed from working in the fields; he learns the hard way that runaways are whipped.

He earns the enmity of Zeke (Bernard Addison), the privileged black overseer, but makes friends with other slaves. For the first time, he reaches out to others, teaching Josiah (Michael Burgess) to read and write and helping him court Caroline (Akosua Busia).

T.J. also finds his destiny inexorably caught up in the largest planned slave revolt in U.S. history, a true-life event led by freeman Denmark Vesey (Carl Lumbly).

Lewis, one of the best young actors around, makes true the transition from hot-shot kid to strong, compassionate man, without losing the essence of T.J.’s humor and drive. Throw in Ann E. Eskridge’s fine script, sensitive direction by Roy Campanella II and an exceptional cast (including Moses Gunn and Vonetta McGee) and you’ve got a better reason than usual to turn on the tube.