Watch Moving Midway

Moving Midway is a 2007 documentary film directed by Godfrey Cheshire that explores the history and culture of the American South through the lens of a family and their antebellum plantation home, Midway. The film follows the journey of author and film critic Godfrey Cheshire, as he returns to his ancestral home in North Carolina, to discover and document his family's connection with Midway, and ultimately explore the legacy of slavery, racism, and Southern identity.

The movie begins with Cheshire, who is a descendant of the owners of Midway, recounting his childhood memories of visiting the plantation, and the stark contrast he felt between the idyllic beauty of the surroundings and the sense of unease he experienced due to the dark history of the place. Cheshire's aunt, who still lives on the plantation, decides to move away from Midway and sell the house, and Cheshire sees this as an opportunity to preserve the family history and explore the complex socio-cultural dynamics of the South.

Cheshire hires a team of professional movers to relocate the 150-year-old plantation house to a new site, which becomes the central theme of the film. While the move may seem mundane, it is a complex task that provides a literal and metaphorical journey through time and space. The process involves dismantling the house, fortifying it with steel beams, and taking it on a 25-mile journey through modern-day Raleigh, North Carolina, a route fraught with obstacles and logistical challenges.

Through this journey, Cheshire and his team explore the history of North Carolina and the South, bringing forth the complexities of race, class, and identity politics that have shaped the region. They interview historians, scholars, and activists who provide context and insight into the legacy of slavery, racism, and segregation that continue to affect the region. The movie also highlights the ways in which the South has been romanticized and mythologized in popular culture, and persuasively argues that such narratives often erase the tumultuous history and diverse experiences of people of color.

Throughout the documentary, the contrasts between the old and the new South are vividly depicted, underscoring the ways in which the past and present collide and informing the broader question of how we reconcile historical and cultural complexities. The journey of Moving Midway is also deeply personal for Cheshire, as he reconciles his own relationship with Midway, and comes to understand how his family history is interwoven with that of the South.

Moving Midway is a thoughtful and nuanced exploration of the American South, one that refuses to shy away from complex and difficult questions. The film's slow pace and contemplative tone encourage reflection and introspection, prompting viewers to consider the ways in which our own histories and identities are intertwined with those of the places we call home. Moving Midway is a compelling and timely meditation on the complexities of history, identity, and memory.

Moving Midway is a 2007 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 79.