McElwee family legend has it that the Hollywood melodrama "Bright Leaf", starring Gary Cooper as a 19th century tobacco grower, is based on filmaker Ross McElwee's great-grandfather, who created the Bull Durham brand. Using his legacy as a jumping off point, McElwee reaches back to his roots in this wry, witty rumination on American history, the tobacco business, and the myth of cinema. One of the Top Ten Films of the Year: NY Times, Entertainment Weekly, The Village Voice, and many others!
