Sundance Review: Seeds is a Stunning, Gripping Documentary on the Insights of Elders.

      Drawing inspiration from Gordon Park's black-and-white photographs of the New Deal Era, cinematographer Brittany Shyne's compelling debut feature, Seeds, presents a portrayal of the vanishing lifestyle of Black farmers in the American South. Its relaxed style largely mirrors the natural rhythms of life in a vérité format, occasionally interrupted by moments when the camera becomes part of the scene.

      The film predominantly centers on Willie Head Jr. and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. As a third-generation farmer whose great-grandfather acquired the land by removing thousands of stumps, he finds himself advocating for both his farm and way of life. During a call with the Farm Service Agency, he reveals some shocking statistics: in 1910, 16 million acres were owned by Black families, but that figure has now shrunk to 1.5 million. His frustration stems largely from the scarcity of bank loans and the lack of support from the USDA for Black farmers. Caught in a repetitive struggle, he makes his concerns known, informing a representative that he’s farming using his social security check. Shyne also portrays Ben Burkett, who at 89 continues to manage every aspect of his farm, from invoicing to delivering his harvest. In a poignant final passage, he reflects on accepting the reality of moving on.

      While the film includes scenes of a protest in Washington, D.C., Shyne focuses more on the lives and skills of Burkett and Head, who take pride in the straightforwardness of honest labor and their ability to forge their own paths through land ownership. They do this without modern computerized agricultural tools, relying instead on traditional zodiac charts and some superstitions. Head is careful to cultivate only what he can legally grow, taking pride in his "old-fashioned corn."

      Despite a generation having moved northward, Head’s granddaughter is raising her child on the farm, providing him with a playmate. She worries that without the farm, he will be confined to an apartment and urges her granddaughter to establish roots and create a home on their land.

      Seeds is most impactful in its depiction of everyday moments: playing with grandchildren, engaging with the community (including the younger generation), and sharing their wealth of knowledge across generations. A labor of love spanning nine years, beautifully captured by Shyne and expertly edited by Malika Zouhali-Worrall, Seeds often evokes a warmer interpretation of a Frederick Wiseman institutional study. Rather than merely observing as an outsider, Shyne (whose grandfather worked as a sharecropper in Mississippi) is entrusted with the task of documenting this vital history of entrepreneurship and community for future generations. It's profoundly moving for the next generation to possess this beautiful testament to their family legacy. Seeds is a film that resonates deeply as we absorb the wisdom of these elders.

      Seeds had its premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

      Grade: B+