Eleven year-old Akeelah Anderson's life is not easy: her father is dead, her mom ignores her, her brother runs with the local gangbangers. She is a smart girl, but her environment threatens to strangle her aspirations. Responding to a threat by her school's principal, Akeelah decides to participate in a spelling bee to avoid detention for her many absences. Much to her surprise and embarrassment, she wins. Her principal asks her to seek coaching from...

A young priest, Father Chisholm, is sent to China to establish a Catholic parish among the non-Christian Chinese.

Howard Spence has seen better days. Once a big Western movie star, he now drowns his disgust for his selfish and failed life with alcohol, drugs and young women.

A young woman with a history of drug abuse returns home after a 3-year prison sentence, to reconnect with her 5-year-old daughter while trying to adjust to the outside world once again.

Katy dreams of filling her father's shoes by taking over their ranch, while her father wants better for her. When she finds and tries to tame a wild horse, she learns how alike she and this stallion truly are.

Nine races. One champion. Formula One drivers compete to be the best in this tale of speed, spectacle, and intertwined personal lives.