Alabama, 1946. S.E. Branch, the filmmaker’s great-grandfather, murdered Bill Spann, a black man. The murder has become hidden family lore, and when Wilkerson sets out to unravel the mystery, he encounters obstacle upon obstacle, destroyed records, and everyone refusing to talk. He’s accused of bringing shame upon the family, shaking up old trouble nobody wants. The ghosts are real in Alabama. This isn’t a white savior story. It's a white nightmare story.