Synopsis
Composed of intimate and unencumbered moments of people in a community in Alabama’s Black Belt, _Hale County This Morning, This Evening_ offers an emotive impression of the Historic South. Daniel Collins attends college in search of opportunity while Quincy Bryant becomes a father to an energetic son. Creating a poetic form that privileges the patiently observed interstices of their lives, RaMell Ross’ film trumpets the beauty of life and consequences of race, while simultaneously existing as a testament to dreaming - despite the odds.
A word from Tënk
I stumbled upon Hale County This Morning, This Evening somewhat by chance at the RIDM in 2018. I had won tickets for the festival and, with a friend, our interest in certain topics and our availability led us to this choice. We left the screening blown away, amazed, and deeply moved by a touching story that, in the end, is about everyday life.
In this visual documentary, almost devoid of narration, RaMell Ross’s camera introduces us to Hale County, Alabama. This intimate incursion portrays the daily life of a less fortunate African-American community, yet one that is united and deeply proud. Between church baptisms and basketball practices, between the raging elements of nature and the dominance of car culture, Hale County This Morning, This Evening pays tribute to a community that has historically been the victim of injustices – and still is today.
Ross's strength lies in letting time guide the flow of images, structuring the narrative thread through a series of tableaux that paint a beautifully humble portrait of the Hale County community. Sometimes, there is no need for special effects to remain glued to the screen: life itself is enough.
Camille Bédard
Tënk Subscriber
Cinephile on the Board of the Festival Filministes
