POV Season 18 Episode 10 Bright Leaves

In POV season 18 episode 10, titled "Bright Leaves," filmmaker Ross McElwee explores the history of his family's tobacco business in North Carolina and the impact it had on his hometown. McElwee's great-grandfather, John McElwee, was a tobacco baron in the early 20th century and his father worked in the industry as well. However, as society began to shift its views on smoking and the harmful effects of tobacco, the McElwee family's legacy became increasingly complicated.

Through interviews with family members, former tobacco workers, and tobacco farmers, McElwee delves into the economic, social, and cultural impact of the tobacco industry on his community and beyond. He also examines the ways in which the Southern United States has been stereotyped and romanticized through Hollywood films and literature, perpetuating certain myths about the region and its people.

The film is shot in McElwee's signature first-person style, where he often appears on camera as he interacts with his subjects and reflects on his own personal connections to the tobacco business. The juxtaposition of vintage family footage with present-day scenes creates a thoughtful exploration of memory, identity, and legacy.

Overall, "Bright Leaves" is a sobering yet compelling look at the intersection of commerce, culture, and health in the American South. McElwee's nuanced approach to examining his family's history serves as a microcosm for a larger societal reckoning with harmful industries and the legacies they leave behind.