Description: When Pearl Fryar and his wife sought to buy a house in an all-white neighborhood of Bishopville, SC, they were dissuaded with the explanation that Black people don't keep up their yards. Remarkably, instead of fueling bitterness and anger, this comment motivated Pearl to win Bishopvilles Yard of the Month award and, eventually, to transform his ordinary suburban yard into a horticultural wonderland. The topiary gardens centerpiece emblazons both its message and Pearls own philosophy: Love, Peace and Goodwill.
"A Man Named Pearl" chronicles the story of Pearl's magical garden as well as his extraordinary life, both of which serve as inspirations to his family, his community and the thousands of visitors who come to experience Pearls world each year. The film traces Pearls journey from a small town sharecroppers son to an internationally-acclaimed artist, focusing in particular on his position as the celebrated cultural and spiritual icon of his impoverished town. Now 68, the soft-spoken Pearl has just one wish for all those who wander through his living art; they must leave feeling differently than when they arrived.
Awards/Screenings/History: Heartland Film Festival 2006: Audience Award, Doc Feature, Salem Film Festival 2006: Audience Award