---
product_id: 23606173
title: "Nightjohn"
price: "NT$697"
currency: TWD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.tw/products/23606173-nightjohn
store_origin: TW
region: Taiwan
---

# Nightjohn

**Price:** NT$697
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Nightjohn
- **How much does it cost?** NT$697 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.tw](https://www.desertcart.tw/products/23606173-nightjohn)

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- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
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## Description

Literacy has enormous consequences for a slave and his young student in the pre-Civil War South.

Review: INSPIRATION FOR EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT - Nightjohn (Carl Lumbly--M.A.N.T.I.S.)gives up his hard won freedom to return to slavery for the sake of teaching letters to other slaves of the south. It costs him dearly, as it did in real tales of the ante-bellum south. A young slave girl, Sarny (Allison Jones), knows the value of education and learns her letters and numbers from John, a child, and her own hard struggles in self-teaching. It works but also eventually costs Sarny something, but she, like Nightjohn, has something no bad plantation owner can take away or sell. Letters! I can't speak for the book by Gary Paulsen, or accuracy of adaptation, but this is a FANTASTIC DVD that if family friendly and should be shown to students to encourage them in their pursuit of knowledge to their highest potential. Older people, like me, can simple enjoy the heart-warming story. There are a very few violent situations, treatment of slaves, that is primarily indicated and leading to, but not shown on screen. It has no bonuses, not even subtitles for the 'southern English' accents. This film was created in connection to Disney and Hallmark so that almost guarantees a worthy 5-star production. It comes across as very realistic, quite believable, and a solid gold message not often found in southern plantation period films. It's all about freedom, education, and goodness in people. A sixth star should be awarded for the VERY REASONABLE PRICE.
Review: Stands on its own two feet - African-American auteur Charles Burnett is best known for neorealist dramas like _A Killer of Sheep_, but his first foray into television is widely regarded as his masterpiece. The New Yorker's Terrence Rafferty proclaimed _Nightjohn_ the "best American movie of 1996." I agree. The plot concerns Sarny, a twelve-year-old slave girl who learns to read, and uses her knowledge to expose and undermine the plantation power structure. Performances are excellent -- newcomer Allison Jones is especially good as Sarny -- and Burnett's direction is honest and forthright. Although _Nightjohn_ has a strong pro-education message, it is conveyed with plenty of suspenseful drama and a bare minimum of preachiness. Family filmmaking doesn't get better than this. The _Nightjohn_ DVD, like the laserdisc edition before it, presents the film in its original full-frame ratio without supplements or bonuses. The transfer and sound are adequate -- and given the price, that's about as much as anyone can reasonably expect. Note to parents: For a film that features no profanity, no sex or nudity, and only a few instances of onscreen violence, the PG-13 rating on this DVD seems excessive. _Nightjohn_ is not for young children, because it strongly suggests the horror and brutality of American slavery. But I'd recommend this film for ages 9 and up, with parental supervision. (Be prepared for a long, thoughtful discussion afterwards.)

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN  | B00CDZBSBK |
| Actors  | Bridges, Beau, Cobbs, Bill, Jones, Allison, Lumbly, Carl, Toussaint, Lorraine |
| Best Sellers Rank | #58,156 in Movies & TV ( See Top 100 in Movies & TV ) #2,920 in Mystery & Thrillers (Movies & TV) #9,251 in Drama DVDs |
| Customer Reviews | 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (239) |
| Director  | Burnett, Professor Charles |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer  | No |
| MPAA rating  | PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned) |
| Media Format  | Color, Full Screen, Multiple Formats, NTSC |
| Number of discs  | 1 |
| Product Dimensions  | 7.5 x 0.7 x 5.4 inches; 2.72 ounces |
| Release date  | July 9, 2013 |
| Run time  | 1 hour and 36 minutes |
| Studio  | Echo Bridge Home Entertainment |

## Product Details

- **Format:** Color, Full Screen, Multiple Formats, NTSC
- **Genre:** Mystery & Thrillers
- **Language:** English
- **Runtime:** 1 hour and 36 minutes

## Images

![Nightjohn - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51tQhosrEdL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ INSPIRATION FOR EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
*by H***F on March 6, 2010*

Nightjohn (Carl Lumbly--M.A.N.T.I.S.)gives up his hard won freedom to return to slavery for the sake of teaching letters to other slaves of the south. It costs him dearly, as it did in real tales of the ante-bellum south. A young slave girl, Sarny (Allison Jones), knows the value of education and learns her letters and numbers from John, a child, and her own hard struggles in self-teaching. It works but also eventually costs Sarny something, but she, like Nightjohn, has something no bad plantation owner can take away or sell. Letters! I can't speak for the book by Gary Paulsen, or accuracy of adaptation, but this is a FANTASTIC DVD that if family friendly and should be shown to students to encourage them in their pursuit of knowledge to their highest potential. Older people, like me, can simple enjoy the heart-warming story. There are a very few violent situations, treatment of slaves, that is primarily indicated and leading to, but not shown on screen. It has no bonuses, not even subtitles for the 'southern English' accents. This film was created in connection to Disney and Hallmark so that almost guarantees a worthy 5-star production. It comes across as very realistic, quite believable, and a solid gold message not often found in southern plantation period films. It's all about freedom, education, and goodness in people. A sixth star should be awarded for the VERY REASONABLE PRICE.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Stands on its own two feet
*by T***Y on May 8, 2006*

African-American auteur Charles Burnett is best known for neorealist dramas like _A Killer of Sheep_, but his first foray into television is widely regarded as his masterpiece. The New Yorker's Terrence Rafferty proclaimed _Nightjohn_ the "best American movie of 1996." I agree. The plot concerns Sarny, a twelve-year-old slave girl who learns to read, and uses her knowledge to expose and undermine the plantation power structure. Performances are excellent -- newcomer Allison Jones is especially good as Sarny -- and Burnett's direction is honest and forthright. Although _Nightjohn_ has a strong pro-education message, it is conveyed with plenty of suspenseful drama and a bare minimum of preachiness. Family filmmaking doesn't get better than this. The _Nightjohn_ DVD, like the laserdisc edition before it, presents the film in its original full-frame ratio without supplements or bonuses. The transfer and sound are adequate -- and given the price, that's about as much as anyone can reasonably expect. Note to parents: For a film that features no profanity, no sex or nudity, and only a few instances of onscreen violence, the PG-13 rating on this DVD seems excessive. _Nightjohn_ is not for young children, because it strongly suggests the horror and brutality of American slavery. But I'd recommend this film for ages 9 and up, with parental supervision. (Be prepared for a long, thoughtful discussion afterwards.)

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Superb Production
*by S***E on November 14, 2010*

I think, not having read the book, which this is truly a wonderful production. I also understand that the book must be quite different so if you have read the book please expect some difference as it is quite normally the case that when you read a book - the following movie does not meet expectations. I make this comment based on a reviewer that doesn't not like the movie, but basing feeling on the book - which may be fair, or unfair. So, to reiterate as a viewer with no expectations based on the movie - brilliantly stunning and educational. My 8 year old watched this and also could feel lessons being unraveled. She liked the power of literacy and brought select sections to her class to share at school. I would not just show this to young kids without viewing it and considering the kids, the ecology of such a decision would simply be wrong - but if you feel fit - a child can get a lot out of this movie. Well done !

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*Product available on Desertcart Taiwan*
*Store origin: TW*
*Last updated: 2026-03-17*