SUZANNAH HERBERT | UNITED STATES | 2025 | 86 MIN | ENGLISH
Once home to the second-largest slave market in the Deep South, Natchez, Mississippi, amassed more millionaires before the Civil War than any other city in the nation. Building opulent mansions became a competitive display of wealth, producing the stunning antebellum homes that still line the city today. Now restored and carefully preserved, these houses anchor a thriving tourism industry. Yet the stories told within their grand halls often soften or omit the painful truths that made them possible. This compelling documentary observes a community grappling with how history is remembered and who gets to tell it. Homeowners, many descended from the original families, preserve genteel traditions and the pageantry that sustains Natchez’s economy. Meanwhile, various local voices are increasingly offering different perspectives, expanding the narrative to include overlooked sites and forgotten voices. Sweeping cinematography and intimate access capture both the grandeur of the homes and the tensions beneath as Natchez struggles to celebrate its heritage while reckoning with the painful history that built it.
Part of the Philadelphia Film Festival's PFF ON US State of the Union series.
Compelling stories offering unparalleled perspectives into communities around the world, hand-picked for our communities here at home. Films in the Community Screenings section are free to attend, thanks to the PFS on Us ticketing program.
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