Cert 15 72mins Stars 3

Take a trip to the deep south of the US with this revealing and heartfelt documentary which offers a poetic portrait of the low wage population as they struggle to thrive and survive.

Director RaMell Ross was deeply embedded in the community while managing a youth program and this afforded him extraordinary excess with which to capture his subjects at their most relaxed and off-guard, though he sensitively retreats to a discreet distance when attending a funeral.

With an approach to filming which is almost experimental with oblique angles, brash colour and time lapse photography, his restless camera hangs on their shoulders as locals hang out, goof around and jam in a variety of musical styles including blues and rap.

This award winner at last year’s prestigious Sundance Film Festival is a showcase for the human spirit and offers a taste of America which is much overlooked, and is sometimes sweet, occasionally tough, but surprisingly rarely bitter.