by Charles Kirkland, Jr.
Based on the remarkable true story of eleven-year-old Sarah Rector, an African American girl who believes there is oil beneath the barren land she’s been allotted, Sarah’s Oil tells an inspiring story of faith, courage, and perseverance.
Young Sarah Rector has been blessed. Under the Treaty of 1866, she inherits 159 acres of land as part of her Creek Indian birthright, an inheritance her family views as a gift from God. When eleven-year-old Sarah arrives on the property, she claims to hear the sound of oil rushing beneath her feet. Convinced her intuition is divine guidance, she persuades her father to take her into town to find a company willing to drill. What follows is a journey filled with swindlers, opportunists, and powerful men determined to claim the black gold and the land belonging to a young Black girl.
Inspired by Tonya Bolden’s book Searching for Sarah Rector, Sarah’s Oil is written by Cyrus and Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh and directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh. The film stars Naya Desir-Johnson, Sonequa Martin-Green, Zachary Levi, Garret Dillahunt, and Mel Rodriguez, bringing to life the extraordinary true story of the girl once dubbed “the richest colored girl in the world.”
Sarah Rector is one of the hidden figures of Black history, a young woman who became an oil magnate and, by age eighteen, the youngest Black millionaire in the United States. With help from the NAACP, she avoided the predatory oversight that plagued the Osage murders and safeguarded her wealth from white mismanagement. A true pioneer, Sarah invested in stocks, bonds, and businesses, supported the Tuskegee Institute, and hosted elegant gatherings attended by icons like Count Basie and Duke Ellington.
Produced by Kingdom Story Company, Sarah’s Oil is a faith-based, family-friendly film that captures the key moments of Sarah’s extraordinary life while taking creative liberties with others. The film focuses primarily on her struggles with the Standard Oil Company, though it glosses over the deeper motivations behind her involvement.
Spiritually, the film takes a surprisingly light touch. Beyond a few references to divine providence and one brief exchange about the fate of a driller’s soul, Sarah’s Oil avoids overt evangelism. Yet faith, both in God and in oneself, remains a quiet undercurrent throughout the story.
Naya Desir-Johnson, recipient of the Critics’ Choice Rising Star Award, delivers a phenomenal performance. Acting alongside industry veterans like Levi and Martin-Green, she demonstrates remarkable emotional depth and presence. Her expressive eyes convey subtle layers of determination, doubt, and grace, grounding the film’s emotional core. The supporting cast, particularly Martin-Green as Sarah’s strong, nurturing mother and Dillahunt as a conniving oilman, provides excellent balance, pushing Desir-Johnson’s performance to shine even brighter.
Rated PG for thematic content, some violence, language including racial slurs, a suggestive reference, and brief smoking, Sarah’s Oil is an informative, inspiring, and beautifully crafted film that sheds light on a too-often-overlooked chapter of American history. It serves as a positive, family-friendly companion to Killers of the Flower Moon, a story of exploitation met with resilience and faith.
Smartly paced, visually rich, and anchored by an outstanding young lead, Sarah’s Oil is a moving reminder of courage, conviction, and divine destiny. It’s a story that deserves its place in the American cinematic canon.
Sarah’s Oil opens in theaters on November 7, 2025.
Grade: B