Bright Leaves (2003)

Director:

Ross McElwee

Writer:

Ross McElwee (writer)

Release Date:

28 April 2004 (France)

Genre:

Documentary | Biography | Comedy

Plot:

North Carolina produces more tobacco than any other state in America. Bright Leaves describes a journey taken across the social...

Plot Keywords:

North Carolina | Great Grandfather | Autobiographical | Family History | Film Within A Film

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Allan Gurganus	...	Himself
Paula Larke	...	Herself
Marilyn Levine	...	Herself
Emily Madison	...	Herself
Adrian McElwee	...	Himself
Ross McElwee	...	Himself
Tom McElwee	...	Himself
Patricia Neal	...	Herself
Vlada Petric	...	Himself
Charleen Swansea	...	Herself

Directed by
Ross McElwee

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ross McElwee		writer

Produced by
Ross McElwee	....	producer
Linda Morgenstern	....	associate producer

Cinematography by
Ross McElwee

Film Editing by
Ross McElwee
Mark Meatto		(as Mark Meato)

Production Management
Stan Sztaba	....	post-production supervisor

Sound Department
Rick Beck	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Adrian McElwee	....	additional camera operator

Editorial Department
Brad Fuller	....	post-production consultant
Stan Sztaba	....	negative matcher

Other crew
Pacho Velez	....	production assistant

Thanks
Renata Jackson	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Channel 4 Television Corporation
• Homemade Movies
• WGBH

Distributors

• First Run Features (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Rézo Films (France)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Durham, North Carolina, USA

Company:

Channel 4 Television Corporation

Quotes:

Allan Gurganus:Forbes Magazine and other national periodicals name this state as the great place to move, and I swear the day after the magazine comes out, you can see a difference in traffic patterns. For me, as somebody who grew up connected to a piece of property...

Movie Connections:

References Madam Satan (1930)

A southern view of a southern paradox

A sensitive treatment of the complex relationship between people, economics and a health hazard; it gives an accurate shapshot of the region (tobacco road), its views, the concerns of its people. The locations are real. The people are real. The accents are real. View this film and you are home.

Ross McElwee consistently entertains us with his unique sense of humor as he explores the possible connections between his great grandfather and the main character in Foster FitzSimons' novel "Bright Leaf." Anyone who is a lover of movies, history, and appreciates a good yarn will enjoy this film. If you are interested in the South, this film, along with McElwee's classic "Sherman's March," will give you significant insights into this region.