Southern Rites Documentary Film
Gillian Laub (American, b. 1975). Sha’von, Justin, and Santa, Mount Vernon, Georgia, 2012. Inkjet print. Courtesy of Benrubi Gallery. © Gillian Laub
Gillian Laub (American, b. 1975). Prom king and queen, dancing at the black prom, Vidalia, Georgia, 2009. Inkjet print. Courtesy of Benrubi Gallery. © Gillian Laub
Southern Rites Documentary Film
HBO original, 2015, TV-14, 1 hr. 27 min.
FREE SCREENINGS
June 30–November 5, 2023
Tues.–Sun., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., & 3 p.m.
The HBO Original documentary visits Montgomery County, Georgia, one year after the town merged its racially segregated proms, and during a historic election campaign that may lead to its first Black sheriff. Acclaimed photographer Gillian Laub, whose photos first brought the area unwanted notoriety, documents the repercussions when a White town resident is charged with the murder of a young Black man. The case divides locals along well-worn racial lines, and the ensuing plea bargain and sentencing uncover complex truths and produce emotional revelations.
Content notice
Gillian Laub's Southern Rites discusses racism, systemic oppression, and racially charged murder. The exhibition examines racial prejudice and raises questions essential to encouraging dialogue and understanding the experience of Black, Brown, Indigenous, and people of color in America.