The 46th annual Atlanta Film Festival takes place from 4/21/22-5/1/22, featuring a wide array of films, documentaries, shorts, music videos, and more. Today, we’re going to be breaking down one of the festival’s documentary features, Master of Light, which is available to view virtually.
For me, Master of Light was a harrowing, sobering, and yet inspiring introduction to the art and the story of George Anthony Morton. I was drawn to this particular documentary from the moment I saw the schedule for the 2022 Atlanta Film Festival. On the surface, George’s story sounds interesting. But, upon pressing play, you quickly realize that ‘profound‘ is the more appropriate term for it.
Courtesy of the Atlanta Film Festival’s film guide:
George Anthony Morton is a classical painter who spent ten years in federal prison for dealing drugs. Since his release, he has worked to defy society’s expectations and to tackle the white-dominant art world. Journeying back home from Atlanta to Kansas City, George works to heal broken relationships while painting family members in the style of the Dutch Old Masters. Every brushstroke dives deeper into George’s soul as he shines a bright light on racial injustice and the intergenerational trauma it begets.
“I’ve been through a lot, but I’m still here.“
George’s story is as complicated as it is gripping, drawing an array of emotions out of its viewers. One of the many themes the film touches on is how difficult it can be to live in between two different worlds. The man has seen things and experienced things that no one should have to. He was able to work through that using art as his escape, but it’s always there, bubbling over with a single trip home. He’s viewed as “making it out,” but we see in other conversations that those experiences are always with him.
His story is a testament to how the system is indeed set up for certain people to lose. He carries a lot of pain with him throughout the journey that Master of Light presents, and in that, it’s easy to see how trauma can be passed down through the generations and perpetuate what is the norm for a lot of marginalized people.
As impressive as his art is, the wisdom he imparts is just as impactful. He talks to his nephew about how your mind is a garden and how you can plant any seed you want there. He compares being an eagle vs. being a pigeon. As an eagle, you’ll fly higher, and because of that, you’ll see more. George talks about carrying yourself with an unwillingness to give up and an unwillingness to fail. Master of Light is a contemplative documentary that provides perspective on glaring issues within our country, the difficulty in escaping them, how trauma is processed, and the importance of painting our future in a different light.
Check out the trailer and head to the Atlanta Film Festival’s film guide to stream Master of Light and to check out other options in their virtual catalog!
Master of Light | Trailer | ATLFF22 from Atlanta Film Society on Vimeo.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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