Hype for the Future 167F: Historic Slave Plantations of the American South (outside Mississippi and Louisiana)

Introduction Within a region known as the Southern United States, notable historic slave plantations have spanned numerous included states, counties, and parishes throughout the area. Perhaps the most common of such states have included Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Florida, Louisiana, and West Virginia. Within the Commonwealth of Virginia, many of the notable plantation estates were located on both sides of the James River, while within […]

https://novatopflex.wordpress.com/2026/04/16/hype-for-the-future-167f-historic-slave-plantations-of-the-american-south-outside-mississippi-and-louisiana/

Hype for the Future 167B: Historic Plantation Houses of Southeast Louisiana

Introduction Within the State of Louisiana, numerous plantation houses have largely been derived from much of the region known as Southern Louisiana, on both sides of the Mississippi River. Though the Florida Parishes are located to the east of the Mississippi River, much of the area of historic plantations is also located further west, within the Parishes of Saint Charles, Saint John the Baptist, Ascension, Iberville, and West Baton Rouge. Beyond the Plantations Apart from the historic […]

https://novatopflex.wordpress.com/2026/04/16/hype-for-the-future-167b-historic-plantation-houses-of-southeast-louisiana/

Hype for the Future 167A: De Soto and Red River Parishes, Louisiana

Overview Within the State of Louisiana, notable parishes include De Soto and Red River Parishes in the northwestern portion of the State, south of Shreveport and Caddo and Bossier Parishes. The parish seats for the respective rural counties are Mansfield and Coushatta, with notable lodging in the latter including Adeline’s Bed and Breakfast and the Grand Bayou Resort. Overall, both parishes are accessible via east-west Route 84, with Route 171 cutting directly through De Soto Parish in a […]

https://novatopflex.wordpress.com/2026/04/16/hype-for-the-future-167a-de-soto-and-red-river-parishes-louisiana/

Hype for the Future 166D: City of Jasper, Alabama

Overview The City of Jasper is a city in and the county seat of Walker County, Alabama, to the northwest of the City of Birmingham. The community is a quintessential community in the State of Alabama and within the Deep South at large, with the Bankhead Heritage House and Museum located in the area. Highways located within county limits include Interstate 22 and Routes 78, 5, 13, 18, 69, 102, 118, 124, 195, 257, and 269.

https://novatopflex.wordpress.com/2026/04/15/hype-for-the-future-166d-city-of-jasper-alabama/

Hype for the Future 154D: Local Communities in South Carolina

Introduction Throughout much of the State of South Carolina, but especially Upstate South Carolina, are numerous counties whose county seats share the same name. Counties such as Allendale, Barnwell, Saluda, and Pickens each share similar qualities associated with cities and towns of the same respective names serving as the county seats. Allendale The Town of Allendale is the county seat of Allendale County, South Carolina, associated with the Salkehatchie Campus of the University of South […]

https://novatopflex.wordpress.com/2026/04/05/hype-for-the-future-154d-local-communities-in-south-carolina/

Hype for the Future 154B: City of Savannah, Georgia

Introduction The City of Savannah is a city located in Chatham County, Georgia, and is a major city that serves as the county seat. Today, the community is located near the mouth of the Savannah River toward the Atlantic Ocean. Metropolitan Area Today, the Savannah Metropolitan Area is attached to the Savannah-Hinesville-Statesboro Combined Statistical Area exclusively within the coastal portion of the State of Georgia. Counties included within the area include Chatham, Effingham, and […]

https://novatopflex.wordpress.com/2026/04/04/hype-for-the-future-154b-city-of-savannah-georgia/

Hype for the Future 153J: City of Ludowici, Georgia

Overview The City of Ludowici is a city located within and the county seat of Long County, Georgia, within the United States of America. The community is located along Routes 84, 301, and 57, within relative proximity to the Atlantic Ocean to the east.

https://novatopflex.wordpress.com/2026/04/03/hype-for-the-future-153j-city-of-ludowici-georgia/

Films and documentaries on Flannery O’Connor

One of the writers I keep coming back to is Flannery O’Connor, a woman whose novels and short stories are as fascinating as her personal life. A devout Roman Catholic living in the evangelical Bible Belt, her writing is marked by regional influences and social contradictions of the Deep South. 

Flannery O’Connor (1925-1964)

My first encounter with O’Connor was through her 1953 short story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” — I remember it as a deeply unsettling read,  yet so memorable for the atmosphere, the ethical questions it poses, and the religious aspect that was so important to her, in both her public and private life. That short story also happened to be my personal introduction to the Southern Gothic genre, of which Flannery O’Connor is one of the finest representatives.

In this post, similar to an earlier article on Emily Dickinson, I’ll present several easily accessible films and documentaries on this amazing author that I think would be a good introduction to her life and works.

American Masters: Flannery

This episode of the celebrated American Masters series is the first feature-length documentary on O’Connor, made in the best tradition of classic PBS documentaries. The production team had full access to the Flannery O’Connor Trust, so the documentary provides a lot of detail, as well as rare archival footage. It premiered in 2021, and depending on where you are in the world, you may be able to access it via the PBS website, or on YouTube. To watch the official trailer, click here.

Bishop Barron Presents: Understanding Flannery with Ethan and Maya Hawke

Bishop Robert Barron is a prominent public speaker, author and theologian, with a sizeable online and digital presence. In this insightful episode of the Bishop Barron Presents series, he and his guests discuss O’Connor’s short stories, her faith, and intriguing bits of information about her private life.

They also talk about the film Wildcat — a 2023 biographical drama directed by Ethan Hawk, with Maya Hawke starring as Flannery. (I haven’t had the chance to watch it yet, but here’s the trailer.)

Flannery O’Connor Reads “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”

There are quite a few recordings of O’Connor’s most anthologised short story out there, but this one is a special treat, as you get to hear it narrated in her own voice. Recorded in 1959 at Vanderbilt University, hearing her Southern accent alone brings that extra something.

The Displaced Person

Commissioned by the National Endowment for the Humanities and released in 1976, this short film is based on O’Connor’s story by the same title. At the very beginning, there’s a brief introduction by Henry Fonda. Apparently, the film was made at Flannery’s actual home in Milledgeville, Georgia, where she lived from 1940 until her untimely death from lupus in 1964. 

If you have any other film or TV tips in connection with Flannery O’Connor, or indeed any thoughts on her and her writings, please do share them in the comments sections below!

NOTES

I’m a freelance language tutor (English, Latin, Classical Greek), researcher, and a literary scholar currently based in Belgrade, Serbia.  

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