Nathan Clarke
Nathan Clarke is a filmmaker living in Richmond, VA. His documentary work has been featured in the New York Times (Neighbors, 2009), The Washington Post (The Psalms, 2016), and Paste Magazine (Wrestling for Jesus, 2011). His feature documentary, Wrestling for Jesus, premiered at the Wisconsin Film Festival and won best doc at the Virginia Film Festival. He is also the co-creator of the Box Canyon, a music and story experiment filmed entirely in a remote canyon in the Texas Hill Country.
Presentations from Facing Race 2020
Race Flicks Panel (Q&A)
Join filmmakers of our Race Flicks films for a Q&A session.
- All Skinfolk Ain’t Kinfolk - Angela Tucker (Director/Producer)
- Belly of the Beast - Erika Cohn (Director/Producer)
- Standing Above the Clouds - Jalena Keane-Lee (Director/Producer)
- Stateless (Apátrida) - Michèle Stephenson (Director)
- The Passing On - Nathan Clarke (Director), Lana Garland (Producer)
- Through the Night - Loira Limbal (Director/Producer)
- While I Breathe I Hope - Xuan Vu (Producer/Editor)
The Passing On
Three professions ushered Black former slaves from poverty to the American dream: preacher, teacher, and undertaker. Lewis Funeral Home has functioned within this tradition, having been a pillar of the Black community in San Antonio, Texas since 1909. While Black funeral homes close across America as a result of the loss of Black neighborhoods and gentrification, Lewis’ current chief embalmer James Bryant cares deeply about this institution after a career of preparing over 10,000 bodies. And he’s damn good at it, having been named the National Embalmer of the Year in 2016. Now, James puts his faith in a new generation to continue this vanishing legacy. He’s met with resistance from his young intern, Clarence Pierre, who himself is conflicted about his commitment due to the judgment he feels from the Black community as a queer, Christian man.
Directed by Nathan Clarke, Produced by Lana Garland and Tyler Trumbo
Speakers: Nathan Clarke, Lana Garland, Tyler Trumbo