Middle of Nowhere

As Ruby (Emayatzy Corinealdi) rides a bus through the inner city streets, she wills herself to push away memories that crowd her.  Four years earlier, she was a vibrant medical student married to the love of her life, Derek (Omari Hardwick). Now, she makes her way to the maximum security prison on the outskirts of town. This is where her love now resides. Behind coiled razor wire and forty foot concrete walls.  As the couple stares into the hallow end of an eight-year prison sentence, Ruby must learn to live another life, one marked by shame and separation. 

But through a chance encounter with hard-working bus driver Brian (David Oyelowo) and a stunning betrayal that shakes her to the core, she is soon propelled in new and often frightening directions of self-discovery. As we chronicle her turbulent yet transformative journey, we witness the emergence of a broken woman made whole.

Written and directed by Ava DuVernay, who won the 2012 Sundance Film Festival Best Director Award for her work, MIDDLE OF NOWHERE chronicles a woman’s separation from her incarcerated husband and the journey to maintain her marriage and her identity amidst crisis and chaos. Winner of the 2013 Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award.

Directed By: Ava DuVernay

Produced By: Howard Barish

Cast: Emayatzy Corinealdi, David Oyelowo, Omari Hardwick, Lorraine Toussaint

Awards: 2013 Sundance: Best Director, 2013 Independent Spirit Awards: John Cassavetes Award. 2013 Black Reel Award: Best Director, Best Screenplay