Sapelo

Both a portrait of a community and an intimate character study, Sapelo tells the story of the Bailey dynasty, from steely matriarch Cornelia to young JerMarkest and Johnathan, living on the unique American island of Sapelo. Descended from slaves, its long-established but insular Saltwater Geechee community keeps mostly to itself and its own traditions. It’s in decline though, as a younger generation is caught between love for its pastoral peace and a yearning to be part of the larger, more exciting world they perceive to be outside. As the boys come of age, frustrations will boil over, even as the family navigate worries around Cornelia’s health and the community face the slow general erosion of their relevance and authority over their own space.