REVIEW: Son of the South Provides a Different Look at the Civil Rights Movement
What started as just a research paper on potential solutions to racial problems in the South would ultimately change the life of a young Alabama man in Son of the South. Bob Zellner (Lucas Till), born to a Methodist minister and grandson of a Ku Klux Klan member, would go from a young man headed for graduate school and set to marry his sweetheart, Carol Anne (Lucy Hale) to becoming the first white secretary of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee and taking part in a march on McComb, Mississippi.
Based on Bob Zellner’s autobiography “The Wrong Side of Murder Creek”, the story starts as Zellner begins his journey into the Civil Rights movement with a research paper focused on racial problems in the South. When his research for the paper results with him being asked to leave his college, Zellner’s life changes forever. He begins to question many things including his family’s history and his own part in the movement.
Barry Alexander Brown’s Son of the South is a moving story that centers on Zellner’s personal experience with the Civil Rights Movement. The story of Zellner’s growth from ignorant Southern boy to a man who recognizes the injustices in his world and wants to be part of the change is a sound one. Yet many parts of the story felt unfinished, including most of the secondary storylines. Zellner’s relationship with Joanne (Lex Scott Davis) is underdeveloped while his relationship with his Ku Klux Klan member grandfather (Brian Dennehy) tapers off before the completion of the third act in the film. Understandably the film’s main focus shouldn’t be the relationship between Zellner and his grandfather but leaving their story unfinished makes one wonder why it was included to start. It’s obvious the relationship was meant to showcase the difference between Zellner and his racist family member and what his path likely could’ve been. However, the grandfather continued to pop-up throughout the flick that not knowing the end result of their relationship is glaring.
Brown’s film is a strong effort that isn’t quite matched by the performance of lead Lucas Till as Bob Zellner. Till slips easily in to the role of Zellner as a bold, bright Alabama college man yet doesn’t grow enough to be convincing as Zellner the activist. Lex Scott Davis’ Joanne was only covered at the surface level; although, that’s more of an issue with the story than the performance. Hale, as Carol Anne, and Brian Dennehy, as Zellner’s racist grandfather, both do well to bring their abhorrent characters to life.
Son of the South is an intriguing, personal take on one man’s experience with the Civil Rights movement. I do recommend checking the film out at some point. Zellner’s story is an interesting one and may leave you wanting to research more about the march in McComb and the events that occur after.
Grade: B