Bright Leaves

2003 · Ross McElwee

At a glance

Bright Leaves is a 2003 documentary film directed and produced by Ross McElwee. It follows the association between McElwee’s family and the tobacco industry. The film runs 107 minutes and is in English. It is listed as a United States film, while its production is described as a United States and United Kingdom project. McElwee is an independent filmmaker, and the film had its world premiere at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. For viewers exploring documentaries about family connections to industry, Bright Leaves offers a personal subject framed through McElwee’s family history. Its central focus is the relationship between that family and tobacco, rather than a broader account of the industry. The listed release year is 2003.

Who it is for

It may suit documentary viewers interested in family histories and the tobacco industry, as well as students exploring personal documentary filmmaking.

What is good

Directed and produced by Ross McElwee
107-minute runtime
English-language documentary
World premiere at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival

What to know first

Focuses on McElwee’s family association with tobacco
Runtime is 107 minutes

Verdict

Bright Leaves centers on a specific family connection to the tobacco industry. Its English-language, 107-minute format may suit viewers looking for a focused documentary by Ross McElwee.

Details

Year: 2003wikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026
Runtime: 107 minwikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026
Director: Ross McElweewikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026
Country: United Stateswikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026
IMDb: tt0372806wikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026

Listed on DocumentaryTube

Documentaries of the 2000s in 20264066 listed
Documentaries Directed by Ross McElwee5 listed

Sources

wikidata.org/wiki/Q4967439· checked 3 Oct 2026
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bright_Leaves· checked 2 Oct 2026