Antebellum: Bush & Renz's Thriller on Racism Past and Present

Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz's debut feature film 'Antebellum' (2020) intertwines two timelines: in the present, sociologist Veronica Henley promotes her book on racial issues in Trump-era America; in the past, she is enslaved on a Louisiana cotton plantation during the Civil War, silenced by soldiers led by Senator Blake Denton. The film opens with a three-minute single take that elegantly captures the violence of the historical drama, then shifts to a psychological thriller echoing Jordan Peele's political horror. Bush and Renz employ a disorienting narrative, impactful visuals, and a dissonant score by Nate Wonder and Roman Gianarthur. However, the Faulkner quote 'The past is not dead; it is not even past' telegraphs the convergence of realities, and the racial theme, while earnest, adds little new to the discourse, prioritizing formal prowess over substance. Starring Janelle Monae, Jena Malone, Jack Huston, and Eric Lange, the film runs 105 minutes.