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.
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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