Storyline

North Carolina produces more tobacco than any other state in America. Bright Leaves describes a journey taken across the social, economic, and psychological tobacco terrain of North Carolina by a native Carolinian, Ross McElwee, whose great-grandfather created the famous brand of tobacco known as Bull Durham. The comedic chronicle is a subjective, autobiographical meditation on the allure of cigarettes and their troubling legacy for the state of North Carolina. It's also a film about family history, addiction, denial, and filmmaking--as McElwee, noted director of Sherman's March, grapples with the legacy of an obscure Hollywood melodrama that is purportedly based on this curious man that was his great-grandfather.—Sujit R. Varma

Plot Keywords

cigarette, rise and fall, parade, doctor, cathedral, affair, smoking, quitting smoking, father son relationship, beauty queen, cemetery, collector, north carolina, autobiographical, family history, wheelchair, southern u.s., rivalry, motel, lung cancer

Short Review

Bright Leaves is not the kind of film that thetruth.com would use in its anti-smoking campaign.

Trailer

Streaming Service

1. Amazon Video : Rent from $1.99, Or $0.00 with a Prime membership