A documentary Film

Currently available to stream on TUBI, The Passing On is a film about renowned embalmer James Bryant who hopes a promising mortuary student will overlook his feelings of rejection within the African American community to continue within the disappearing tradition of Black funeral homes.

TRAILER

 PRESS

SCALAWAG - In Review, “Can These Bones Live?” by W.J. Lofton

It is a clarion call to Black folks, by way of Black folks, to ask what we will do to slow the erasure of our sacred spaces. Do we believe these bones can live? And if we do, will we follow the lead of James and Clarence in forging both traditional and new ways to tend to the bodies within our communities?

1MORE FILM BLOG - Review by Ken Morefield

The Passing On is about more than one thing. The title refers not merely to the deaths of individual people but also the decline of an industry. Seeking to answer the question about why there are fewer African-American run funeral homes, the film forces us to reflect on how traditions are made–and lost.

THE WISCONSIN FILM FESTIVAL - Golden Badger Jury Statement

The Passing On is one of two films to receive the Golden Badger Award. “The Passing On encompasses so many transitions and their repercussions: the passing on of a trade and a tradition, a Black community facing gentrification, the shifting tides of LGBTQ acceptance, the ache of growing into one’s vocation and confidence, and, of course, the transition of the body itself from life to death. This is an unassumingly beautiful film and a real accomplishment.”

THE DENTON RECORD CHRONICLE - Titles to Catch at This Year’s Denton Black Film Festival: by Lucinda Breeding

“Clarke and his team avoid treacly sentiment in this stellar film…The Passing On not only examines the struggles of a good and faithful servant in Bryant. It presents an eloquent meditation on what the Black community loses when its daughters and sons are no longer bound by segregation and choose careers in a racially integrated country."

BAY AREA REPORTER - Indiefest’s Queer Flick Picks by Jim Provenzano

“this profoundly humane films includes humor and pathos in showing realistic perspectives on the inevitable”.

FILM THREAT - Review by Rob Rector

8/10 - “The Passing On gives viewers a glimpse of one man’s role in families’ most emotionally charged moments of life. And it tenderly captures just how he realizes the importance of his role as an usher through the journey and openly shares the wisdom he accumulates along the path.”

THE BLACK FUNERAL HOME

Three professions ushered Black former slaves from poverty to the American dream: preacher, teacher, and undertaker. Today, Black funeral homes close across America as a result of the loss of Black neighborhoods and gentrification. Lewis Funeral Home has functioned within this tradition and new reality as a pillar of the Black community in San Antonio, Texas since 1909.

More resources about the institution of the Black funeral home.

Passed On by Dr. Karla FC Holloway

The essential book on African American funeral traditions in the twentieth century. Dr. Holloway’s book is deeply personal, thoroughly investigative, and the starting place to understanding the place of the “death-care” industry in Black culture.

“Back to Denver Heights” by Cary Clack

Cary Clack grew up in the same neighborhood as James Bryant on the near east side of San Antonio. Cary is now a columnist and writer in San Antonio, and here reflects beautifully on the San Antonio of his youth and the ways in which his boyhood neighborhood has been rapidly changing over the last several years. Cary is part of our advisory board.

“Body of Work” by Robyn Ross

Read the Texas Monthly article that set us off on our journey following Rev. James Bryant. This profile was written on the occasion of Rev. Bryant being named the “2016 National Embalmer of the Year.”

“Historic Black-owned Funeral Homes Face a Reckoning” by Ileana Najarro

The Houston Chronicle’s deep narrative dive into the current state of the industry. This is essential reading for understanding the stresses and challenges of operating an independent funeral home

Homegoings a documentary by Christine Turner

This 2013 documentary film is about Isaiah Owens, a funeral home owner in Harlem, NY. It’s an examination and celebration of the funeral traditions of the African American community and the families who are supported through these community experiences.

TEAM

Nathan Clarke: Director

Nathan Clarke is a filmmaker living in Richmond, VA. His documentary work has been featured in the New York Times (NEIGHBORS, 2009), The Washington Post (THE PSALMS, 2016), and Paste Magazine (WRESTLING FOR JESUS, 2011). His feature documentary, WRESTLING FOR JESUS, premiered at the Wisconsin Film Festival and won best doc at the Virginia Film Festival. He is also the co-creator of THE BOX CANYON, a music and story experiment filmed entirely in a remote canyon in the Texas Hill Country.

Lana Garland: Producer

Lana Garland has worked as a Creative Director, Director, and Writer/Producer in television and film in the US and Europe. Her work has included creating content for HBO and BET in America, and TV2 in Denmark. In documentary film, she has freelanced on films such as BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE and HBO’s UNCHAINED MEMORIES: READINGS FROM THE SLAVE NARRATIVES. Lana is a Gordon Parks IFP screenwriting finalist, a Worldfest Houston finalist, a Telly Award winner, and a NATPE fellow. As a Fulbright Specialist, she taught film at Makerere University in Uganda. As the curator of the Hayti Heritage Film Festival, Lana is focused on developing a Black & Southern film ecosystem. She is the recipient of the Ella Fountain Pratt Emerging Artists Award from the Durham Arts Council and was recognized by the state of North Carolina for her contributions to art and culture.

Tyler Trumbo: Producer / Editor

Tyler Trumbo is a Virginia-based documentary filmmaker and editor born and raised along the Blue Ridge Mountains. His work has been featured on The Atlantic and shown around the world including screenings at Sheffield Doc/Fest, Slamdance Film Festival, Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, and the Virginia Film Festival. He holds an M.F.A in Documentary Film and Video from Stanford University and is currently an adjunct professor at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Tamara Tunie: Executive Producer

Tamara Tunie is an award-winning actor, director and producer whose body of work has garnered international acclaim and brings to light important social issues. She starred for 18 seasons as Medical Examiner Dr. Melinda Warner LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT. Tunie, also, starred in Sundance TV’s THE RED ROAD, AMC’s new series DIETLAND, and the BBC/Netflix political drama BLACK EARTH RISING. In film, Ms. Tunie has worked with some of the most respected directors of the screen, including Taylor Hackford, Brian De Palma, Mimi Leder, Harold Becker and Oliver Stone. She most recently worked with legendary director Robert Zemekis, opposite Denzel Washington, in FLIGHT. Ms. Tunie has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Carnegie-Mellon University.  She is a Pittsburgh native, who resides in Harlem, NYC.

Tim Grant: Cinematographer / Producer

Tim Grant's documentary work includes television, short and feature films. Tim co-produced FINDERS KEEPERS, a film he helped complete after production had stalled for three years. FINDERS KEEPERS premiered at the 2015 Sundance film festival and gained universal critical acclaim. It would go on to SxSW, Hot Docs, and Traverse City, where it won 'best comedy'. FINDERS KEEPERS is currently playing on Netflix. Tim produced J. Cole’s 4 YOUR EYEZ ONLY and 'J. COLE FOREST HILLS DRIVE: HOMECOMING, both upon completion were acquired by HBO and have been well received by critics and fans alike. His short documentary film THE ARIA OF BABY FACE CAULIFLOWER BROWN premiered at Hot Docs 2017 and was published as a New York Times OpDoc.  Tim currently lives in Los Angeles, California where he develops, produces, and directs documentary feature films, TV shows and docu-style commercials.

PAST SCREENINGS

Cucalorus Film Festival

Virtual screening, starts November 18th for 4 days. In addition, there will be a live Q&A with producer Lana Garland and director Nathan Clarke on Saturday, Nov 21 at 4PM.

January 27-Feb 1, 2021.

Facing Race / Race Flicks

The Passing On will be part of Race Forward’s Facing Race Conference. The Race Flicks track will be from Nov 10-12 and open to conference participants. Includes a Q and A with Rev. Erika Forbes, Producer Lana Garland, and director Nathan Clarke moderated by Hannah Hearn from Working Films

JUSTICE FILM FESTIVAL

Virtual screening, November 19-21. Tickets available now.

AFRICAN DIASPORA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Virtual Screening, Nov 29-Dec 2. Part of the “Slate 1” series of films.

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