Called to the Mountains
Bluegrass 45, one of Japan’s first bluegrass bands, brings its unique sound to the American South. Through intimate cinematography and interviews, this film explores the band’s journey—from daily life in Japan to performances in the U.S.—showcasing the powerful cultural connections forged through music and shared experiences.
Episodes
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Called to the Mountains
S10 E1005 - 53m 44s
Bluegrass 45, one of Japan’s first bluegrass bands, brings its unique sound to the American South. Through intimate cinematography and interviews, this film explores the band’s journey—from daily life in Japan to performances in the U.S.—showcasing the powerful cultural connections forged through music and shared experiences.
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Small Town Universe
S10 E1004 - 54m 15s
Green Bank, West Virginia, is home to the world’s most sensitive radio telescope—and the only U.S. town where Wi-Fi and cell phones are banned. Here, scientists search for signs of extraterrestrial life while residents navigate pivotal moments in their own lives. This film explores the community’s deep connection to the universe and each other.
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Ishak
S10 E1003 - 13m 24s
Filmmaker Maaliyah Papillion is tapped to learn the ways of her elders and carry on their sacred traditions as the next chief of the Atakapa-Išhak Nation, making her the second woman to lead the tribe since 1771.
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Black Godfather of Scuba
S10 E1003 - 24m 41s
Dr. Albert “Doc” Jones, founder of the National Association of Black Scuba Divers, dedicated his life to uncovering lost histories beneath the ocean. When his team found the Henrietta Marie, the first recovered slave ship, he set out to honor those lost at sea. This film celebrates his mission to recover forgotten stories and preserve them for future generations.
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The Voice of Bamboo
S10 E1003 - 15m 52s
A Japanese elder shares his journey from a life of crime to finding peace as a bamboo farmer in the mountains of North Carolina, where growing bamboo helped him discover a more spiritual way of living.
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How to Sue the Klan
S10 E1002 - 34m 11s
In 1982, five Black women from Chattanooga sued the Ku Klux Klan in a groundbreaking civil case. Their victory set a legal precedent that held the Klan accountable and inspired future battles against organized hate. This film chronicles their bravery and the lasting impact of their fight for justice and community healing.
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36 Seconds: Portrait of a Hate Crime
S10 E1001 - 54m 16s
In 2015, three Muslim-American students were shot and killed in Chapel Hill, NC. As their families confront the grief of the loss, they push back against the claim that their deaths were part of a random dispute. This film follows their courageous advocacy to expose the truth and fight for justice in the face of systemic racism.
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I'm Still Here
S10 E1002 - 26m 18s
Between 1947 and 1967, Birmingham, Alabama, witnessed over 50 bombings targeting Black-owned homes. This film follows three individuals who, as children, lived through the terror and stayed in the city. Together, they seek to turn Birmingham’s painful history into a symbol of hope, resilience, and civil rights progress.
Extras + Features
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Hidden History at the Scrap Yard
S10 E1005 - 2m 28s
Members of Bluegrass 45 are reunited with the iconic tour van from their US tour in the 1970’s, now hiding a scrap yard in West Virginia.
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Called to the Mountains | Official Trailer
S10 E1005 - 1m
Bluegrass 45, one of Japan’s first bluegrass bands, brings its unique sound to the American South. Through intimate cinematography and interviews, this film explores the band’s journey—from daily life in Japan to performances in the U.S.—showcasing the powerful cultural connections forged through music and shared experiences.
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Japanese Students of Bluegrass
S10 E1005 - 1m 48s
Tsuyoshi “Josh” Otsuka, member of Bluegrass 45, jams with Kobe University’s Bluegrass club.
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Finding Relief in West Virginia | Deleted Scene
S10 E1004 - 5m 56s
In her life in New York, Sue was wracked with constant headaches, burns, tingling, numbness, and other mystery symptoms. She soon determined the cause of these symptoms: electrohypersensitivity. After reading an article about Green Bank, West Virginia, a radio quiet zone where others with her condition have found solace, she and her husband make sacrifices to move there.
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The Next Generation of Citizen Science
S10 E1004 - 2m 40s
College student Ellie White visits an elementary school to lead young students in an astronomy project.
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Moving Day | Deleted Scene
S10 E1004 - 2m 16s
Sue and her husband are reunited as he moves out of their home in New York to live with her in Green Bank permanently. They explore the land they bought and describe their plans to build a new home.
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A Sight for Sore Eyes | Deleted Scene
S10 E1004 - 3m 51s
Sue and her husband reunite after a period of time apart and reflect on how the distance has been challenging. They attend a dinner with a group of friends also suffering from electrohypersensitivity.
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Small Town Universe | Official Trailer
S10 E1004 - 30s
Green Bank, West Virginia, is home to the world’s most sensitive radio telescope—and the only U.S. town where Wi-Fi and cell phones are banned. Here, scientists search for signs of extraterrestrial life while residents navigate pivotal moments in their own lives. This film explores the community’s deep connection to the universe and each other.
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A Town Hall Showdown
S10 E1004 - 3m
When the National Science Foundation proposes a funding cut to the Green Bank Observatory, residents of a small West Virginia town passionately defend the project at a town hall meeting.
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Putting Down Roots | Deleted Scene
S10 E1004 - 4m 53s
Sue reflects on how her quality of life has improved in Green Bank and discusses buying a piece of land for her and her husband.
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The Strength of Bamboo
S10 E1003 - 2m 6s
Keiji, a bamboo farmer, explains the unique aspects of the plant that brings him peace and spirituality.
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Ishak | Official Trailer
S10 E1003 - 19s
Filmmaker Maaliyah Papillion is tapped to learn the ways of her elders and carry on their sacred traditions as the next chief of the Atakapa-Išhak Nation, making her the second woman to lead the tribe since 1771.
Schedule
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Image
REEL SOUTH
Called to the Mountains
Friday
May 9
1 Hour
Bluegrass 45, one of Japan's first bluegrass bands, brings its unique sound to the American South. -
Image
REEL SOUTH
Called to the Mountains
Friday
May 9
1 Hour
Bluegrass 45, one of Japan's first bluegrass bands, brings its unique sound to the American South. -
Image
REEL SOUTH
South by South Korea
Thursday
May 15
1 Hour
Two films showcase the historical and contemporary currents connecting the American South and the Korean peninsula. -
Image
REEL SOUTH
South by South Korea
Friday
May 16
1 Hour
Two films showcase the historical and contemporary currents connecting the American South and the Korean peninsula. -
Image
REEL SOUTH
South by South Korea
Friday
May 16
1 Hour
Two films showcase the historical and contemporary currents connecting the American South and the Korean peninsula.
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