Independent documentarian Roberto Minervini*, though born and financed in Italy, has largely focused on the lives of America’s have-nots, here among politically or economically marginalized White Louisianans. The first two-thirds of the film focused on the extended family of Mark Kelley, a laid-back, rather likeable drug addict (everything from meth & heroin on down), somethings of the family head, protector to his dying mother (cancer), an equally frail Grandmother and his fiancé. He’s waiting to serve a three-month prison term, but holding out with help from a handy tool kit to get him into public & private buildings for ‘shopping.’ Something of a Godfather to his many Aunts, Uncles, various cousins, nieces & nephews, none of whom appear employed, all fiercely Right Wing Conservative (their hatred of Obama tinged with racism), proud to vote straight Republican Party line against their own interests. (If’n they voted.) Somehow, Minervini was allowed (encouraged?) to get all the way into their lives, right down to some ‘Hard R’/Full-Frontal fucking; the women either sickly thin or tending to fat; the men headed toward meth related gauntness. You get the feeling those who look on the far side of forty may really be ten or fifteen years younger than you guessed. The last third of the film (far less involving/original) moves away from Kelley & family to showcase a militaristic far-right outfit and their families over a July 4th holiday where weekend warriors practice defending bedrock American values with ‘live’ ammo against ‘the Left’ taking away their rights. Sure to occur within the next two months! You’d think they’d notice nothing happening year after year, but they’re all too busy bro-bonding and blowing up Obama in effigy.
ATTENTION MUST BE PAID: *Minervini’s latest, THE DAMNED/’24, moves from Documentary to period narrative.
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