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Feb

29

Cleveland Film Fest honors John Sayles, didn’t select definitive union story, Matewan


Talk about being elated and deflated in the shortest time-span possible.

John Sayles is probably my absolute favorite film director. And, according to this article on Ohio.com, the Cleveland International Film Festival will be honoring him this year with the Director’s Spotlight award. [The festival starts on Thursday].

In honor of his being honored, they’ll be showing six of his films – but not Matewan. I just bet that someone who reads this blog knows someone who can tell us why not Matewan.

I am totally bummed. Sure, I can rent it (and have from time to time to watch it again). But it’s the kind of movie that really needs to be seen.

John Sayles will be in attendance at the 32nd CIFF on Friday, March 7th and Saturday, March 8th to introduce his films, to hold post-screening Q&A sessions with the audience, and to accept the CIFF’s 2008 Director’s Spotlight Award.

Now, I would much rather have gotten tickets to that, than to the CSU Democratic presidential primary debate.

Have I also ever mentioned that I think David Straithairn (he’s the kind of actor who, if you don’t know him by name like I do, you may have no recollection of who he is, but when you see this, you’ll remember him) is one of the most excellent actors of our time? Which is partly why I love Matewan so much?

If, however, you are a Matewan groupie like me, don’t despair. Them That Work is to be released this year and here’s a nice interview with writer/director Jason Brown (and here’s his blog that chronicles his work on the documentary which is about how Matewan the movie was made). Evidence of why my preference for Matewan isn’t unique (from the interview):

John Sayles has made several incredible films, yet, Matewan is still considered by many to be his best work. Why do you think that is?

Matewan was the crystallization of so many things. It had been written before much of the work that pushed Sayles to the level of “Indie Icon.” It came from research he had done for his book Union Dues. And they had tried to get it made once and things fell through. By the time, Matewan was made in 1986, so many pieces had come together. I just think the film is tighter, fuller, broader, and filled with so many talented people that it shows on screen.

On top of all that, I think it’s moral and political viewpoint is clearer than some of his other films to explain to people. The movie impacted the Labor Movement which had been floundering in the 80′s. It was a flashpoint for independent film for its ability to be epic on a small budget. It really had the reach to go beyond just its story.

In my humble opinion, Matewan is the start of Sayles’ peak production period including Eight Men Out, Passion Fish, City of Hope, Secret of Roan Inish and then Lone Star. I couldn’t imagine to say one is better than the others.

Why do I have this affinity for Matewan? Besides the compelling nature of the true story of the Battle of Matewan, the allure of indy films for me, the incredible acting, writing, directing and cinematography?

It’s probably the two Spring Breaks in Appalachia that I spent at Red Bird Mission in Beverly, Kentucky (here’s the history of the mission). Once you go there, you will never forget it. If you’ve never lived poor? Never known unemployment? This is living poor and being unemployed (Red Bird services these counties):

United States

Population 281,412,906
In labor force (over age 16) 63.9%
High School graduate or higher 80.4%
Bachelor’s Degree or higher 24.4%
Per capita income $21,587
Families below poverty level 9.2%

Access 2000 Census Information here

Bell County, Kentucky

Population 30,060
In labor force (over age 16) 42.6%
High School graduate or higher 56.6%
Bachelor’s Degree or higher 9%
Per capita income $11,526
Families below poverty level 26.7%

Clay County, Kentucky

Population 24,556
In labor force (over age 16) 37.6%
High School graduate or higher 49.4%
Bachelor’s Degree or higher 8%
Per capita income $9, 716
Families below poverty level 35.4%

Leslie County, Kentucky

Population 12,401
In labor force (over age 16) 39.8%
High School graduate or higher 52.5%
Bachelor’s Degree or higher 6.3%
Per capita income $10,429
Families below poverty level 30.2%

Anyway – I might try to see Sayles but then go home and rent Matewan.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:47 am February 29th, 2008 in Announcements, Civil Rights, Culture, Economy, Education, Environment, Government, Health Care, Media, Politics, Social Issues, Voting, Writing 

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