Documentary
United States of America
Hale County This Morning, This Evening is a documentary film directed by RaMell Ross and released in 2018. The film is set in Hale County, Alabama, and follows the lives of several African American residents of the county over the course of several years.
The film is composed of a series of vignettes that capture small, intimate moments in the lives of the film's subjects. These moments include a basketball game, a family gathering, a baby's first steps, and a high school prom. Throughout the film, Ross uses the camera to focus on the beauty and complexity of these everyday moments, highlighting the humanity of his subjects.
At the same time, the film also connects these individual moments to larger social and historical forces. Hale County has a complicated racial history, and the film captures both the ways in which racism and segregation continue to impact the lives of its residents, as well as the ways in which the community has come together to resist such forces.
Overall, Hale County This Morning, This Evening is a powerful and poetic film that explores the profound impact of history and race on the everyday lives of ordinary people. Through its intimate and unencumbered approach to storytelling, the film invites viewers to share in the experiences of its characters and to see the world in a new and empathetic light.
