SXSW 2019: AMA and Festival Recap
SXSW festival recap and my thoughts on the experience. I answer questions submitted through Twitter.
SXSW: Sister Aimee
Sister Aimee is a brilliant road trip story centered on empowered female characters and reimagines an obscure event from early 20th century American history.
SXSW: Strange Negotiations
Strange Negotiations is a poetic and deeply personal documentary about the loss of faith and the struggle to find oneself.
SXSW: La Mala Noche
Calvache’s film is a heart-pounding thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat. It’s brilliantly directed with some terrific cinematography and excellent story telling. Lead actress Noëlle Schönwald delivers a powerful performance.
SXSW: Show Me the Picture: The Story of Jim Marshall
Show Me the Picture: The Story of Jim Marshall is a compelling portrait of a difficult man with great talent who made an impact on the careers of the 20th century rock stars we know and love.
SXSW: South Mountain
Director Hilary Brougher’s South Mountain is a beautiful, quiet film about a couple’s break-up and its repercussions. It stays true to the messy nature of family dynamics.
SXSW: Sakawa
Sakawa is a compelling documentary that offers insight into a little-known world of internet scammers of Ghana, Africa.
SXSW: Being Impossible
Director Patricia Ortega’s Being Impossible/Yo imposible is a hard pill to swallow. It’s a heavy-handed story that offers little to an audience that will be overwhelmed by the subject matter.
SXSW: Qualified
ESPN documentary about race car driver Janet Guthrie, a marginalized figure in sports history. Her setbacks were so frustrating but her determination is awe-inspiring. A strong female role model for women of all ages.
SXSW: Nothing Fancy: Diana Kennedy
Nothing Fancy: Diana Kennedy is a charming documentary that allows its subject’s vibrant personality shine through. It ensures Diana Kennedy’s contributions to preserving Mexican food culture is appreciated for decades to come.
SXSW: Days of the Whale
Days of the Whale is a promising debut from a fresh new voice. It explores art as both expression and defiance and shines a spotlight on one of the lesser known urban communities of South America.
SXSW: Tread
Tread is a compelling and yet overly polished documentary about the 2004 attack on Granby, Colorado.
SXSW: The Beach Bum
The Beach Bum is not as good as Korine’s Mister Lonely or the more comparable Spring Breakers, but is enjoyable fare if you’re on board. And you have to be on board for this ride.
SXSW: Salvage
An intimate portrait of a community in flux and a powerful examination of both wastefulness and resourcefulness. Fascinating!
SXSW 2019 Film Festival: My Picks
Documentaries, feature films, movies directed by women, Spanish-language cinema and more. Here are my SXSW Film Festival picks.