Bright Leaves

"Ostensibly about an epic betrayal, Bright Leaves spirals beautifully in a hundred different directions." - Ed Gonzalez

I don't really see much difference between this and McElwee's other films, but it doesn't seem quite as striking to me as those did. Maybe I just care less about tobacco than whatever his other films were about. Or maybe it's that this one actually spends significant time on the supposed topic more rather than transition fully into a personal documentary. Or maybe it's because the personal documentary part is him chasing silly ghosts of the past. Still enjoyed it a decent amount, though.

I saw this in Rotterdam in early 2004, where I spoke briefly with the director, of whose work I am very fond. Discussed a little here: https://www.academia.edu/12687013/From_Philosophical_Cinema_to_Cinematic_Politics_2007_