Spit on the Broom

Film still from SPIT ON THE BROOM

Thematic The Weight of a Question: Documentary and the Art of Inquiry

For more than a century and a half, a group of African American women belonging to a clandestine organization have acted as agents of goodwill in their communities. This visual essay portrays the history of the United Order of Tents, a secret society that originated in the aftermath of the American Civil War. The strength of this multigenerational sisterhood is shown through an amalgamation of historical reenactments and contemporary sequences with the Tents. These hyperreal images are accompanied by narration documenting the history of the organization, a hypnagogic score, and ethereal sound design. Through harrowing imagery and dreamlike scenes from the past, the mystery of the Tents unfolds but never unravels.  SAM

Director

Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich

Producer

Krystal Tingle

Cinematographer

Jon-Sesrie Goff

Release Year

2019

Festival Year

2025

Country

United States

Run Time

11 minutes