On Thursday, November 6th, at the Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture, the Bozeman Doc Series continues with the the Montana premiere of the award-winning new documentary, Natchez. The film screens at 7pm.
Natchez captures an unsettling clash between history and memory in a small Mississippi town; a layered mosaic of people contending with the weight of the past in a place where it is always present. Equal parts amusing and disturbing, we journey through an antebellum tourist destination at a crossroads as it grapples with a deeply troubled history that is so thoroughly ingrained in its present, we’re left to wonder if it’s actually past at all.
Natchez world-premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival where it won the award for Best Documentary Feature and Special Jury Mentions for Cinematography and Editing.
“[A] sharp exploration of the American South’s unreconciled history. The haunting Natchez is a potent choral portrait of a town reliant on its antebellum past to survive, and how its idiosyncratic citizens navigate – and reflect on – their town’s history and memory. With an observant lens, Herbert foregrounds a dynamic array of distinctive residents…With palpable intimacy, Herbert’s film reveals a looming reckoning that asks the question: who gets to tell America’s story?” – Tribeca Film Festival
Following on Sunday, November 23rd, the Doc Series returns to the Emerson with the Montana premiere of the critically acclaimed new documentary, The Golden Spurtle. The film screens at 7pm.
Dating back to neolithic times, few culinary traditions have survived as long as the hearty bowl of morning porridge. Despite its simple recipe of oats, salt and water there is a lot that can vary. Each year the sleepy highland village of Carrbridge awakens with excitement as locals and competitors from around the globe vie for the honour of winning “The Golden Spurtle” in the World Porridge Making Championships. For ageing, charismatic, and soon-to-retire protagonist Charlie Miller, this competition means so much more than just a bowl of steaming oats. With ailing health but a responsibility to his fellow porridge committee members, Charlie is on a mission to secure the future of the championships – and his own legacy.
Legacy is also at stake for Carrbridge local Ian Bishop. With his health in decline, Ian’s goal is to mount one last glorious attempt to secure the title. But there’s stiff competition. Formidable return competitor Lisa Williams, the queen of porridge, is ready to bring home the trophy. Whilst the new generation of spurtlers – Toby Wilson (Australian taco chef armed with and his radical recipe for an oat-based tortilla), and Adam Kiani (armed with his grandmother’s secret stirring technique), both want to challenge the porridge status quo. Against the backdrop of the breathtaking Scottish Highlands and infused with whimsical humour of an eclectic cast, The Golden Spurtle captures the humanity of village life and those who visit with spurtle in hand.
“Irresistible… a quirky, delightful story… A witty, wholesome wonder… a feast for the soul.” – Irish Independent
“Charming… a pleasure to watch… as wholesome and nourishing as its oat-stirring subjects.” – The Guardian
Doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets are available at the door or before the show online at www.bozemandocseries.org, where you can also buy Season Passes and 7-film punch cards, learn more about the series, and view trailers for upcoming films. The series will continue every other Thursday through April. •
