Bright Leaves

Using the 1950 Gary Cooper film "Bright Leaf" as a starting point, director Ross McElwee thoroughly dissects the controversial and highly profitable tobacco industry. McElwee, whose great-grandfather made and subsequently lost a fortune in tobacco after creating the brand Bull Durham, also explores his own roots in the industry. The film includes interviews with people on whom tobacco has had a major impact, from lung cancer patients and cigarette smokers to industry insiders.