SON OF THE SOUTH

US, 2020, 105 minutes, Colour.

Lucas Till, Jake Abel, Lucy Hale, Cedric the Entertainer, Brian Dennehy, Julia Ormond, Sharonda Vanier.

Directed by Barry Alexander Brown.

Several films were in production well before the Black Lives Matter protests during 2020, police killing black men and women, the storming of the Capitol in January 2021. Which means that looking back into the racism of the past is prominent in American consciousness – as well as around the world.

Son of the South shared release time with the United States vs Billie Holiday, One Night in Miami, and Judas and the Black Messiah. The Billie Holiday film takes us back into the 1940s and 50s. One Night in Miami is set in February 1964, the night Cassius Clay defeated Sonny Liston. Judas and the Black Messiah takes us into the late 1960s.

This film is set in Alabama and Georgia in 1961, part of the preview to the 1963 March on Washington and the introduction of Civil Rights legislation.

It is the story of the young Bob Zellner, brought up in the Jim Crow south, his grandfather a member of the Klan. His grandfather continues to pursue him, threaten him. His father, on the other hand, brought up in a Klan family, went on study tour to Russia, heard a black choir on tour there and was moved, becoming a minister on his return home and bringing up Bob in this more open setting. A study project at the University led Bob Zellner to a black congregation, to the Reverend Ralph Abernathy, a change in consciousness about black lives, his staffing an office in Atlanta in the summer of 1961 and his consequently becoming a key campaigner for Civil Rights.

He has been significant for the movement, a white campaigner, especially during the years of the murders of white protesters in the Southern states. The Freedom Riders are significant in this film.

Lucas Till plays Bob Zellner, dramatizing his change of perspectives and his activity commitment – enhanced not only by Ralph Abernathy but his meeting with Rosa Parks in the years after her ‘disobedience’ in riding a bus in Montgomery, Alabama.

The drama is more intense as the film opens with a lynching party – and Bob as the target. The film will arrive at this point again, Bob and a defiant choice for his life’s work. There are photos and clips at the end of the film of the actual Bob Zellner.

The film is released 60 years after the events portrayed – so much change for the better, but, still, so much racism ingrained and needing to be challenged.

1. Based on a true story? Historical episodes of 1961? Racism in the American South? The footage of Bob Zellner at the end of the film?
2. 1961, Alabama, Atlanta Georgia, the towns, homes, streets and protests, public buildings, bus tours of Freedom Writers? The musical score?
3. The opening, Bob Zellner, with the crowd, the noose, around his neck, his being hanged – and the flashback, the reprisal of the scene, Doc and his behaviour, Bob going free?
4. The introduction to the students, their research paper, racism, going to the church, with Rev Abernathy, their investigations, the meeting with Rosa Parks, the fifth anniversary of the famous bus ride in Montgomery? The police arriving? The young men, older before the authorities, to be sent from the University? Bob, his friends, their working together, his attitudes, their turning on him and leaving? His relationship with Carol Ann, her support?
5. Rev Abernathy, his reputation, civil rights work, church, sermons, protest?
6. Bob, staying neutral, his upbringing in Alabama, the presence of the Ku Klux Klan, his grandfather and membership, the Klan confronting Bob and the students, his grandfather revealing himself, warning him – and the later interventions by his grandfather, his father present, silently tracking him at Atlanta, in the park, the threat to shoot him, his grandfather refusing to acknowledge Joanne?
7. Bob’s father, the tradition of the Klan, exchange student in Russia, the choir, his joining them, the impact of the music, the breaking down of his racial blindness, a minister on his return, the influence on Bob, Bob’s mother, the family? His father supporting him? The meal table, his mother’s concern?
8. The Freedom Riders, black-and-white, in the buses? The locals lining up, the attack? The brutality in the streets? The reading of the riot act? The violence? Bob urged to go out and rescue Jessica, her being a reporter? Joanne, the other girls, suspicions of Bob?
9. Virginia Durr and her husband, their house, guests, supporting Rosa Parks, the Freedom Riders, the meals, Bob and his presence, learning from her? Her watching the riots, urging Bob to go out? The later sequences in New York? Her role in the race issues?
10. The discussions with Carol Ann, her laying down the law, slapping Bob, his listening, his packing, decision to go?
11. John Lewis as leading the Freedom Writers, the television sequences, as an exemplar of Bob?
12. Bob going to the office in Atlanta, his being left with the briefcase, and staffing the phone during the holidays? Joanne, her support, the attraction, relationship? The arrival of the official, the discussions with Bob? Suspicions? The arrival of the angry black man, provoking Bob? Bob proving his credentials? The non-violence training, provoking violence, Bob being provoked, his learning non-violence?
13. The march across the bridge, the range of people, Bob joining? The confrontations with the police? Arrests, interrogations? The sheriff and not arresting Bob, warning him off?
14. The past friendship with Doc, Doc and his time in Korea, his racism, criticisms of Bob, arguments? Spitting on the Freedom Riders, his anger? Taking Bob, the setting up of the lynching, the men watching, the noose, around Bob’s neck, getting him down?
15. Bob and making decisions, Joanne and the friend at the bus stop, Doc passing by, Bob and the verbal confrontation, non-violent, Doc backing down?
16. The information about Bob Zellner, his Civil Rights activity, a leading white advocate of Civil Rights? His long life and work? Consultant for this film?