STORYLINE: A sharp look at the American South’s unreconciled history through Natchez, a Mississippi town that mixes antebellum tourism with a community deeply divided over its past. (IMDb)

    The interesting thing about documentary features is their ability to offer a variety of perspectives, on a variety of subjects. 2016’s Life Animated was an insiders perspective into what it is like to have autism, while 20 Feet From Stardom (2013) is an insiders look into the lives of back up singers. The documentary, Natchez,  gives audiences dueling perspectives a history of the southern town.

     The first perspective featured in the documentary, is the slave trade history.  Through  a guided tour of the town, by a local pastor/tour guide, the film does not shy away from the honest truth of the past. The feature goes into reconstruction, how the African American community found success politically, and the difficulties, the community endured.

   The second perspective the movie shows is the southern bells.  The perspective is the white savior point of view, about how the town was on the edge of financial disaster, and they found a way to bring it back to life.  This perspective shows off the classic colonial style houses, and features the women in the clothing of the Civil War era.

    The two perspectives never directly over lap, in the motion picture.  However, they do acknowledge one another. 

    I always like it when a documentary features dueling perspectives, like Natchez does.  It makes for a balanced movie. I walked out of this documentary feeling that the film balanced both points of view in a respectful way, even if I appreciated the listening to the first perspective more.

    Natchez is a documentary that balances due,ing perspectives on a southern town filled with American history.

    Until next time I will see you at the movies!