Adapted from an Appalachian Jack Tale set in the late 1940s, this tale follows a World War II veteran named Jack who, in return for an act of kindness, receives two magical gifts: a sack that can catch anything and a jar that can show whether a sick person will recover or die. Jack becomes a national hero when he rescues the president's daughter from a serious illness by capturing Death in his magic sack. However, after many years without Death in the world, Jack realizes that he has upset the natural order and releases Death to save humankind from perpetual old age and misery.
Direction
Tom Davenport preserves oral storytelling tradition beautifully.
Production
DIY 1980s fantasy aesthetic—charmingly unpolished.
Director
Tom Davenport
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Jack Tales are uniquely Appalachian, blending European folklore with mountain storytelling traditions. Davenport spent decades documenting these oral narratives.
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