#152 - George Washington

 

This one came out of nowhere for me - I haven't heard of the director, and I hadn't heard of the film that I recall when I watched it - it's beautifully shot - No one else will make the comparison, but I feel he captured the mood and feel of this film the way Wong Kar-Wai captures Hong Kong

The story takes place amongst a group of kids in an economically depressed area of North Carolina.   I almost don't want to say too much about it because I think it's the kind of film you should go in cold with but suffice it to say, the way the story is told, and especially the way it's show by the filmography, Tim Orr, tell a story all it's own.   

The side trivia here is very interesting - most of the actors are amateurs who the director found here and there.   I think they filmed it in a very short time with rented gear from Dawson's Creek, and while the director went on to do several more films, most of the actors/actressses in this film only have one or two credits to their name after this and the lead actor (who the director found on a beach and asked to be in his movie) has none.

This film feels like a southern gothic visual version of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska and I was very impressed - I may even give it a once more with the director's commentary to get all the really good trivia.   It's a dark story, and a bit of one that takes your breath away in spots, but it's worth watching