‘Seeds’ Review: A Quietly Stunning Doc Contemplates the Present and Future of Black Farmers

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My close friend, discussing her own photography skills, recently shared that she felt there was still much more for her to express through black and white images. This thought crossed my mind as I watched “Seeds“, Brittany Shyne’s poignant exploration of African American farmers in the U.S., which skillfully employs a monochromatic color scheme. The movie beautifully captures subtle emotions and powerful contrasts using shades of gray, demonstrating eloquence through its somber tones.

At the Sundance Film Festival in the United States Documentary competition, the film Seeds showcases the lives of two African-American farmers in modern-day America’s rural south. Shyne, who is also the cinematographer, creates a heartfelt depiction of farm life while unveiling the challenges that could potentially jeopardize it. Over the years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been accused of unfair practices towards Black farmers, such as denying loans or providing smaller loan amounts compared to what is given to white farmers.

Previously, in an unprecedented decision, the agency consented to disburse approximately $2 billion among around 40,000 Black farmers nationwide as a form of reparation. However, the payments have been delayed, and Shyne’s film follows the journey of Willie Head Jr., a farmer from Pavo, Georgia who inherited his grandfather’s land, as he maneuvers through this complex administrative hurdle.

Seeds is not an investigative journalism piece but rather a poetic reflection, similar in style to Garrett Bradley’s Time (premiered at Sundance in 2020) and RaMell Ross’ Hale County This Morning, This Evening. The film adopts a serene tempo as it primarily focuses on Shyne, following Head and Carlie Williams, an elderly farmer in Thomas County, Georgia, as they work their land and care for their community. The director uses close-up shots of farming equipment like a tractor cutter head harvesting crops, hands handling stored seeds, or a bag of pecans ready to be weighed, to emphasize the film’s personal perspective and offer a more engaging viewing experience.

Shyne immerses us in everyday life without much pomp. In Seeds, we start with a funeral, heartfelt discussions between a grandmother and her grandchild about heaven, and large machinery moving through a cotton field. The tractor’s practical slicing through the fluffy substance, laden with historical significance, is striking and underscores the profound bond African-Americans have with this land. For instance, Williams’ family farm in Georgia is one of the oldest centennial farms in the U.S., a distinction awarded to lands that have been owned by the same families for over a century.

The old farmer boasts about both his age and the work he does. In a particular moment, while marketing his pecan crop in town, Williams informs a young store clerk that he has been farming since he was 18. However, it’s distressing to learn that despite working for 70 years, he struggles even to purchase new glasses, which a doctor advised him to get following cataract surgery.

Williams’ delicate financial predicament underscores the significance of Head’s advocacy. As we witness the young farmer frequently reaching out to USDA officials for updates on anticipated subsidies or traveling to Washington D.C. to rally outside the Capitol, it becomes abundantly clear why such action is essential. These stories, with their intertwining themes, further engage us as spectators.

In the film “Seeds“, a farmer articulates that farming is essentially what sustains the globe, emphasizing its crucial role in feeding people. It’s all too easy for many of us, particularly those living in America, to overlook this vital work due to our detachment from food production. Shyne makes an effort to remind us by devoting a substantial portion of the screen time to depicting how Head and Williams diligently cultivate their crops.

This is where her decision to film Seeds in black and white proves particularly effective. Removing vibrant colors offers a fresh perspective on the landscape. The image of tractors tilling cotton brings to mind painful history due to its similarity with old photographs. However, when daylight illuminates a gathering of young Black farmers harvesting watermelons or Head’s great-grandchild frolicking in the field, the land seems hopeful and welcoming. Shyne also employs contrast to better portray the high risks involved in safeguarding such a lifestyle.

In the story of Seeds, every farmer deeply values the land’s fate. The character Head shares practical tips and wisdom – making it a useful learning resource – as well as thought-provoking reflections. He discusses the contrast between costly seeds (which can only be used once) and heirloom seeds (which continue to produce), checks an almanac, and shows how to decipher the cues the land provides about weather trends.

Grandfather is deeply committed to instilling in his great-grandchildren the significance of this land. He invites them to play, experience the soil, establish a bond with the earth beneath their feet. In the early 1900s, black farmers owned approximately 16 million acres; today that figure has dramatically decreased to around a million. Through his work in Seeds, Shyne brings attention to these farmers – both the experienced and the young ones – who are valiantly defending what little they have left.

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2025-01-25 22:55