Hillbilly

I really liked this documentary, but sometimes it seemed very obvious that its focus was to find left-leaning subcultures within the Hillbilly culture in order to give left-leaning America hope...

The main problem with this, is that it the film kept making the claim that hillbillies are unfairly represented in media... but in this, seemed to do exactly what the media does to hillbillies.

It's worth a watch.

Not really sure this documentary goes out of it's way to lift America's perception of the people of the Appalachian region. Seems more like the filmmaker is trying to justify to herself why Hillary lost the 2016 election. As one gets older you realize - to appreciate where you are in life - you must first appreciate where you've been.

This is what I learned from Hillbilly:

• Appalachia is an ugly, depressing, rundown place. And we're talking about a stretch encompassing well over a hundred thousand square miles, as the movie's map showed us.

• The only conservative-leaning people who are loveable belong to the filmaker's family.

• There are a minority of smart, educated people in this backward place called Appalachia, but they are all left-leaning. (Of course, I mean, what would you expect?)

• People all across this huge God-forsaken expanse refer to themselves as "hillbillies."

• There is absolutely no reason to visit this unseemly, tasteless place unless your curious for a cultural experience, namely to study these odd folks so you can talk about them when you get back to civilization.

Oops. I almost! I grew up in small town Appalachia! And "Hillbilly" is a mere charicature of the richness and diversity of the people and places I knew. But darn it! I understand that to make a movie like that would been a bit too challenging and uncomfortable for the elites. Mea culpa for my criticisms. I should have know better.

The first half of the movie is spent telling you not to degrade Southerners. Then it goes on to pump the narrative that ignorant hillbillies are the reason for Trump and the point is basically "wake up and vote blue you stupid Hicks".

I don't think this movie will do anything to help the people of Appalachia or their perception. If anything it's just going to make things worse. Most people in Appalachia will do anything for anyone they just don't want to be told what to do and want to be left alone. That's what people don't understand.

Filmmakers Sally Rubin and Ashley York go to Kentucky (from LA) to visit York's family and consider the changes in her attitudes and life since she left for college. York was reared there and clearly loves her family (and they her) despite a huge difference in their world views. Aside from interviewing her family members they also sought input from thinkers and artists from Appalachia, and their input is both informative and moving.

Of course, being filmed in the fall of 2016, the Trump issue is everywhere. Rubin and York try to understand why York's family is, almost without exception, wildly supportive of the Republican ticket despite voting for President Obama previously.

But the best part of the film is its examination of the media treatment of "hillbillies" over the last century or so. The stereotypes presented continue to negatively effect how we see this diffuse area of the country and their millions of residents. From the movie "Deliverance" to TV's "Hee Haw", they are often portrayed as either dangerous or stupid and both.

Other facets addressed include Appalachia's reaction to the rising LGBTQ movement and Black Appalachians. I saw this at the Traverse City Film Festival and both showings were almost immediately sold out. It was indeed one of the best documentaries shown there, winning the Founders Award for Documentary Filmmaking. See it where ever you can.