Son of the South (film)

Son of the South is a 2020 American biographical historical drama film, written and directed by Barry Alexander Brown. Based on Bob Zellner's autobiography, The Wrong Side of Murder Creek: A White Southerner in the Freedom Movement, It stars Lucas Till, Lex Scott Davis, Lucy Hale, Jake Abel, Shamier Anderson, Julia Ormond, Brian Dennehy and Cedric the Entertainer. Spike Lee serves as an executive producer.

Not to be confused with Song of the South, a 1946 Disney film that contains the song "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah".
Son of the South
Official film poster
Directed byBarry Alexander Brown
Produced by
  • Colin Bates
  • Stan Erdreich
  • Bill Black
  • Eve Pomerance
  • Michael Jefferson
Written byBarry Alexander Brown
Based onThe Wrong Side of Murder Creek
by Bob Zellner
Starring
Music bySteven Argila
CinematographyJohn Rosario
Edited byBarry Alexander Brown
Production
companies
  • Lucidity Entertainment
  • Major Motion Pictures
  • River Bend Pictures
  • El Ride Productions
  • SSS Film Capital
Distributed by
Release date
  • August 26, 2020 (2020-08-26) (ABFF)
  • February 5, 2021 (2021-02-05) (United States)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

It had its world premiere at the American Black Film Festival on August 26, 2020. It was released on February 5, 2021, by Clear Horizon Entertainment and Vertical Entertainment.

Premise

A grandson of a Klansman comes of age in the Deep South and eventually joins the Civil Rights Movement.

Plot

Bob Zellner is the son of a Methodist minister, a senior attending all-white Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama in 1961. Seeking information with which to write research papers on race relations, Zellner and four fellow students attend a event held in a Black church to mark the fifth anniversary of the 1955-56 Montgomery Bus Boycott. The event is conducted by Ralph Abernathy and Rosa Parks. When police arrive to arrest them, the white students evade arrest by fleeing through a back door. Dubbed the 'Huntingdon Five' in a newspaper, a cross is burned on the yard outside Zellner's room. Zellner's klansman grandfather warns him not to involve himself in the civil rights movement.

Witnessing a mob attack on the Freedom Riders, Zellner helps Jessica Mitford get to safety.

At first a passive supporter of the movement, Zellner goes on to become SNCC's first white field secretary.

Cast

Production

Development and pre-production

In February 2019, it was announced Barry Alexander Brown would direct the film, from a screenplay he wrote, while Colin Bates, Eve Pomerance, Bill Black, Stan Erdreich will serve as producers on the film, while Spike Lee and Frank Barwah will serve as executive producers.[3] In April 2019, Lucas Till, Lucy Hale, Lex Scott Davis, Julia Ormond, Cedric the Entertainer, Mike Manning, Sharonne Lainer, Brian Dennehy, Chaka Forman, Shamier Anderson, Jake Abel, Ludi Lin,[4] Onye Eme-Akwari, Dexter Darden, and Matt William Knowles[5] joined the cast of the film.[6][7][8][9][10]

Filming

Principal photography began in April 2019.[11][12]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the American Black Film Festival on August 26, 2020.[13] Prior to, Clear Horizon Entertainment acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film.[14] On January 14, 2021, it was announced along with the release of the trailer, that Vertical Entertainment will co-distribute the film in the U.S. and release it in theaters and VOD on February 5.[15]

Reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes surveyed 9 critics and, categorizing the reviews as positive or negative, assessed 5 as positive and 4 as negative for a 56% rating. Among the reviews, it determined an average rating of 5.3 out of 10.[16]

References
  1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2235372/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast
  2. "Son of the South (2020)—cast". IMDb. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  3. N'Duka, Amanda (February 6, 2019). "'BlacKkKlansman's Spike Lee & Barry Alexander Brown Team On 'Son of the South' Film". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  4. Kroll, Justin (2019-04-26). "'Aquaman' Actor Ludi Lin Joins Spike Lee-Produced 'Son of the South' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2019-04-26.
  5. McNary, Dave (2019-05-03). "Film News Roundup: Sabrina Carpenter to Star in 'Work It' Dance Comedy". Variety. Retrieved 2019-06-22.
  6. McNary, Dave (April 15, 2019). "Lucy Hale, Lucas Till to Star in Spike Lee's Civil Rights Drama 'Son of the South' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  7. N'Duka, Amanda (April 16, 2019). "'Love & Mercy' Actor Jake Abel Joins Civil Rights Drama 'Son of the South'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  8. N'Duka, Amanda (April 24, 2019). "'Maze Runner's Dexter Darden To Play John Lewis In 'Son Of The South'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  9. McNary, Dave (2019-05-03). "Film News Roundup: Sabrina Carpenter to Star in 'Work It' Dance Comedy". Variety. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
  10. N'Duka, Amanda (2019-05-07). "Mike C. Manning Joins 'Son of the South'; Makenzie Vega, Nicky Whelan Set For 'Instafame'; Amelia Crouch In 'Eight For Silver'". Deadline. Retrieved 2019-06-22.
  11. Staff, WSFA (April 11, 2019). "Extras needed for 'Son of the South' movie filming in Montgomery". wtvy.com. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  12. "'Son of the South' movie scenes to be filmed at Tuskegee University". wsfa.com. April 9, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  13. "Son of the South". American Black Film Festival. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  14. Wiseman, Andreas (August 26, 2020). "Clear Horizon Launches U.S. Distribution Arm With 'Son Of The South' From 'BlacKkKlansman' Editor Barry Alexander Brown". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  15. https://lrmonline.com/news/trailer-for-son-of-the-south-with-spike-lee-as-executive-producer/
  16. "Son of the South (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
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