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Last month, I had the pleasure of attending the premiere of Aunt Sister: The Legacy of Sarah Rector at the Reel Black Film Festival. Directed by Jacob Handy, the film aims to dispel the many myths about Sarah Rector that have circulated since she first struck oil.
Rector was at one point considered "The richest Black girl in America". When she was eleven years old, Rector received an allotment of land from the US government which contained oil. The film follows Rector from the time she first came into wealth through her adulthood after she lost much of it.
Aunt Sister blends documentary and biopic styles in order to tell its story effectively. As Rector's descendants discuss her story, the film cuts to several reenactments of Rector's life. This allows us to connect with her on a personal level. Towards the middle of the film, Rector (Syknese Fields) speaks directly to the audiences. In this film, Rector is charming and bold.
"I throw parties just to remind myself that we ain't the story they wrote for us."
The use of reenactment also keeps the audience entertained and engaged. Considering that this film was made for Kansas City PBS, it makes sense that the goal would be to educate in an enjoyable way.
I respect that director Handy chose to include the family in the telling of Sarah Rector's story. In a panel held after the premiere, Handy mentioned that he didn't like that a previous film about Rector didn't ask for permission to tell her story. Having the family tell the story makes the film more reputable and personal. In the film, the family sits around a table telling stories in the way anyone would talk about their beloved relatives.
During the panel, the family and filmmakers gave a lot of insight into the production of the film. KCPBS asked Handy to direct the film following the release of his previous documentary The Potato King: A Dynasty Built on Dirt and Dreams. After four hours of interviews, the team got to work on the film.
Rector's descendants shared more fun stories about Rector, who they call "Aunt Sister" because their mother, Sarah's sister, often referred to Sarah as just "Sister". This became the title of the film.
The family was happy that the film would be able to dispel some of the rumors and misinformation about Rector and her life. Many pictures online which claim to be of Sarah Rector actually aren't. Some people also claim that Rector attended Tuskegee University as a college student. In reality, the film explains, Rector only attended the boarding school on the campus.
The relatives also told the story of finding Sarah's farm in Wyandotte County, KS. They spent hours researching and driving around to find the farm; it was a great moment to connect with their aunt.
Aunt Sister: The Legacy of Sarah Rector is both educational and exciting. Its unique form of storytelling elevates it above many other documentaries.
If you're interested in seeing this film, it is available on PBS Passport or on the Kansas City PBS YouTube Channel.
