"That Evening Sun" is a 2009 drama film based on a short story by William Gay. The film stars Hal Holbrook as Abner Meecham, an aging Tennessee farmer who has just been released from a nursing home, and returns to his home only to find that his son has leased the farm to an unscrupulous businessman named Lonzo Choat (played by Ray McKinnon).
Determined to stay on his land, Abner moves into an old tenant house on the property and confronts Choat, but quickly realizes that he is outmatched and outmaneuvered. As Abner navigates the legal system and tries to gain control of his farm, he also grapples with his strained relationship with his estranged daughter (played by Mia Wasikowska), who has moved back home with her abusive husband.
Meanwhile, Abner also rekindles an old romance with an African American woman named Ludie (played by Carrie Preston), who lives nearby and has her own troubles with Choat. As tensions rise and the threat of violence looms, Abner must rely on his wits and determination to protect his land and his dignity.
The film was directed by Scott Teems and was well-received by critics, who praised Holbrook's performance and the film's nuanced portrayal of rural life in the South. "That Evening Sun" was also nominated for several Independent Spirit Awards and other accolades.
