Mississippi Burning is a 1988 American crime thriller directed by Alan Parker and starring Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe. The movie is loosely based on the real-life 1964 murder of three civil rights workers in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and the investigation that followed. Hackman plays Rupert Anderson, a veteran FBI agent who is paired with the younger and more idealistic Alan Ward (Dafoe) to investigate the disappearance of the workers.
The agents soon discover that the local KKK and white supremacist groups are responsible for the murders, but they are met with resistance from the local law enforcement and community. Anderson, who is familiar with the racial dynamics of the area, takes a more aggressive approach to the investigation, while Ward tries to maintain his objectivity and adhere to FBI protocols.
As tensions rise and violence erupts in the town, the two agents struggle to navigate the complex web of racial tension and political corruption that surrounds the case. They also confront their own personal beliefs and biases as they work to bring all parties involved to justice.
Mississippi Burning was critically acclaimed upon its release and was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning one for Best Cinematography. It is widely regarded as a powerful commentary on the civil rights movement and the ongoing struggle for racial equality in America.