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Dee Rees wanted to make ‘an old-fashioned movie’ and ended up with an Oscar contender | The Washington Post

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Dee Rees wanted to make ‘an old-fashioned movie’ and ended up with an Oscar contender | The Washington Post



[dropcap]The[/dropcap] film grapples with difficult material, including violence, racism and poverty that feel dispiritingly timely. But the Middleburg viewers not only didn’t flinch, they embraced it.

“This film was always about inheritance as a country, and who we are,” said Rees during a question-and-answer session after the screening. “If you want to get beyond the surface reading of race, just think about your inheritance. Not physically, but ideas. What has been unconsciously passed on to you, and what are you unconsciously passing down? Until we can look at our inheritance and be mindful about what we’re passing on, we’re never going to turn the corner.” [mc4wp_form id=”6042″]

“Mudbound” went on to earn Middleburg’s Audience Award, one of several plaudits that is putting the film squarely in play during the run-up to Oscar season. Last weekend, the film received a Hollywood Film Award. Later this month, New York’s Gotham Awards will bestow a special jury prize for ensemble performance, a promising harbinger given that most Motion Picture Academy voters are actors.

African American Film, Black Film, African American Entertainment, Middleburg Film Festival, African American News, KOLUMN Magazine, KOLUMNR Dumont/Getty Images | Photo Credit

African American Film, Black Film, African American Entertainment, Middleburg Film Festival, African American News, KOLUMN Magazine, KOLUMNR Dumont/Getty Images | Photo Credit

African American Film, Black Film, African American Entertainment, Middleburg Film Festival, African American News, KOLUMN Magazine, KOLUMNJay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times | Photo Credit


NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY & CULTURE | WASHINGTON, DC

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. It was established by Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans. To date, the Museum has collected more than 36,000 artifacts and nearly 100,000 individuals have become charter members. The Museum opened to the public on September 24, 2016, as the 19th and newest museum of the Smithsonian Institution. (Website).