Natchez

The residents of Natchez start talking when the history of their town, the antebellum cotton empire and birthplace of the myth of the America South, is the topic. Suzannah Herbert’s documentary Natchez explores the complex history of Natchez though without retelling the polished stories passed down over centuries, Herbert focuses on silences and counter-narratives. The town is divided: some still guide tourists through colonial mansions, nostalgically recalling the grandeur of the old society, while others demand a history that acknowledges the labor and presence of hundreds of enslaved people. In between are individuals struggling to translate politically correct language into their own words. Herbert gradually complicates the image of Natchez, revealing contradictions beneath the facade of politeness and distinction. The documentary, awarded at Tribeca, paints a picture of a Mississippi town that evokes both a Gone with the Wind postcard and testimony to some of the most shameful moments in American history.