'Natchez' Noah Collier/Oscilloscope Laboratories/Courtesy Everett Collection Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment The U.S. Civil War ended 160 years ago, but as demonstrated by the new documentary feature Natchez, its reverberations are still very much being felt in the American South. During a Q&A (which you can watch below) at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival (where Natchez was featured on the fest's annual Docs to Watch panel), the film's director, Suzannah Herbert, addressed why she has devoted her career to making films about the South, and what, for this new Oscilloscope release, led her specifically to the eponymous small town in Mississippi, which has a population of less than 15,000. Related Stories Movies 'Apocalypse in the Tropics' Documentarian on Brazil's Surge of Christian Nationalism and Its Own January 6th Movies 'Riefenstahl' Documentary Director Discusses the Secrets and Lies of Hitler's Favorite Propagandist Herbert says that she spent 75 days filming in Natchez, meeting locals, establishing relationships and making subjects feel comfortable enough to reveal their true selves, for better or worse. The film was then deliberately assembled in the format of Robert Altman's Nashville, with many overlapping characters, and in the tone of Errol Morris' docs Gates of Heaven and Vernon, Florida, which gave their eccentric subjects the time and space to reveal themselves. Suzannah Herbert Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SCAD The Hollywood Reporter's review of the film - which premiered at the Tribeca Festival and took home the documentary feature prize as well as special jury awards for cinematography and editing - includes the following passage: "Contradictions abound as we learn that Natchez was a place where formerly enslaved African Americans thrived during Reconstruction. And yet, it's mostly white residents fighting against having the slave market memorialized in the 21st century. How can a city move forward without acknowledging the past? That's not just a question for Natchez, but one for America as a whole." THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up rose byrne Rose Byrne to Receive Breakthrough Performance Award at Palm Springs International Film Festival (Exclusive) F1 How 'F1: The Movie' Was Filmed at Real Grand Prixs, With Brad Pitt and Damson Idris Driving 180 MPH Sundance Film Festival Sundance Sets 2026 Lineup With Charli XCX, Olivia Wilde, Salman Rushdie and Courtney Love Films Woody Harrelson 'Ella McCay' Review: Emma Mackey Battles to Breathe Authenticity Into James L. Brooks' Antiquated Sentimental Comedy united kingdom Jonathan Pryce Boards Refugee Short 'Largo' as Executive Producer (Exclusive) Teyana Taylor Spike Lee Praises Ryan Coogler, Delroy Lindo as He Receives Career Achievement Award at Critics Choice Celebration of Black Cinema and Television rose byrne Rose Byrne to Receive Breakthrough Performance Award at Palm Springs International Film Festival (Exclusive) F1 How 'F1: The Movie' Was Filmed at Real Grand Prixs, With Brad Pitt and Damson Idris Driving 180 MPH Sundance Film Festival Sundance Sets 2026 Lineup With Charli XCX, Olivia Wilde, Salman Rushdie and Courtney Love Films Woody Harrelson 'Ella McCay' Review: Emma Mackey Battles to Breathe Authenticity Into James L. Brooks' Antiquated Sentimental Comedy united kingdom Jonathan Pryce Boards Refugee Short 'Largo' as Executive Producer (Exclusive) Teyana Taylor Spike Lee Praises Ryan Coogler, Delroy Lindo as He Receives Career Achievement Award at Critics Choice Celebration of Black Cinema and Television