Last year at South by Southwest in Austin, TX, I scooped Vanity Fair on Lily Gladstone (without Leo) so I felt a little intimidated to fill my own Birks. But, again, THE WOMEN showed up and showed out! Check out highlights from the festival’s film programming.
Featured Session: Samantha Bee’s “Choice Words” Live with Ilana Glazer, Pamela Adlon and Michelle Buteau
Samantha Bee, in seven seasons of doing “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,” was nominated for 70 awards, and was personally nominated for 18 Emmy awards. Google told me. Her site also enlightened me to the fact that she currently holds the title for being the longest-serving regular “The Daily Show” correspondent, authored an essay collection, and has been featured in TIME100: The Most Influential People.
On the second Saturday of March, all I knew about her was the hour during which she’d be hosting Ilana Glazer. I arrived early and inadequately prepared to record all of the other things that I did not know. But here goes somethin’!
Michelle Buteau, I cannot take my eyes off of you. On any platform, in any medium, with any enthusiasm.
Michelle possesses unpurchasable charisma. And this truly indescribable strength of devotion to character. This… something… that will ever remain on the very tip of my tongue. And so the nameless, shapeless, odorless thing that we all casually call “talent” had me falling tush over teakettle for a person on screen whom I’d have absolutely despised in real life.
Babes Red Carpet Q&A
Ilana, thank you for giving us “Broad City,” and Babes, and whatever treasure we are lucky enough to get next. Pamela, I really want to imagine a lost weekend as a member of your entourage—seriously. But no, like… call me? And Samantha, thanks for putting your back into being the flyover that kickstarted this festival for me.
Less than 24 hours after the Babes premiere…
(See it. Seriously. I’m not kidding. Babes is coming out as a limited release on May 17. As a limited release, Babes will only be shown in select movie theaters across major markets. You might need to hit the highway, but this juice is worth the squeezing.)
…I was standing in the third of a dozen parallel lines in the third floor lobby of the Fairmont Hotel. Which meant that I ended up with a third row seat for Esther and Brene.
“Unlocking Us” Live Podcast Taping
In a brilliant discourse, Brene Brown and Esther Perel explored the costs of living beyond human scale. While I paid “the piper” trying to hear what they were saying over the incessant click/clack/click/clack/click/clack of my neighbor’s “Living Beyond Human Scale” Live Demo, they recorded a wonderful slice of in-the-present pie. But I’m not going to risk boring you with the details, because they just released it so you can listen (without any distraction) right here.
And thank me later.
We Can Be Heroes
You know what else I didn’t know? The term “Live Action Role-Playing.” LARP. So now I’m wondering if I’ve been doing life wrong much longer than previously suspected. Follow @wecanbeheroesdoc on Instagram! Please. This recipient of the Documentary Feature Special Jury Award for Empathy & Bravery is—in a world where “reality” is now so often scripted—an uncontrived window into a world that is more exquisitely dramatic and complex, textured and patinated, more gripping even than a wildly successful blockbuster. I found it difficult to pinpoint where, exactly, cinema and humanity intersected. It was woven together too tightly. And I longed for the level of metamorphosis that the campers seemed to enjoy, nearly effortlessly, once they committed. It is a film that children and adults need to see together and talk about as equals. Truly a gorgeous endeavor!
A King Like Me
In Texas, they’ll take you to the picture show. If the picture show is a love letter to the most significant social club in all of Orleans Parish, they’ll invite you to a second line, treat you to a picture show, feed you Baby A’s, get a purple margarita in your paw, pull you on the dance floor and keep you out way too late. Any given Sunday.
I ran (nearly directly) into Susan Sarandon getting popcorn. Someone was telling her that she looked like Susan Sarandon, naturally. We had a lovely chat about Athens and New Orleans, Dynamite (shameless promo) on N. Jackson St. and her dog Penny Lane. And New Orleans. Did I mention New Orleans? She seemed very pleased with Matthew Henderson’s portrait of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club. I know that I was. I would argue that, historically speaking, Zulu is the most culturally significant group of its (or perhaps any) kind in this country. At the very least. And despite unconscionable challenges, the inner machinations of how the members care for each other is nothing shy of Utopian in nature. This is how GOD, by whatever name you call him, her or them wants us to live. And the way that Matthew communicated that is stunning! This was the film’s first showing and it is still being edited.
These things can take time, so hang tight! While we’re at it, a film I reviewed at my first SXSW, Swan Song, is on HULU! Check it out. I adored it.
Audrey
I was unaware that I even had a taste for dark comedy, but Jackie Van Beek’s Audrey took me right on into the pitch black depths of the coal mine. A family tortured by their proximity to the spoiled twat their abled daughter has fashioned herself into gets a welcomed breather as she lingers in a coma. As a device, offing her allows a much more tender take-away to unfurl: there is, indeed, something much worse than being handicapped or ignored. There is even something worse then being a has-been actress. And often, that “something” is becoming a successful actress. I enjoyed watching the way this family of misfits bonded over her absence. Bravo!
Never Look Away
OK. Here’s what I do know: Margaret Moth is a dramatically captivating character.
I was determined to get into this film. And I can assure you that, even with a platinum pass and a press assignment, getting into a film this year was not for the faint of heart. I wasn’t able to gain access to a number of my intended viewings. But I did get in to see Never Look Away.
I didn’t look away, but I also never got past the idea of an adult woman encouraging a 17 year old boy to drop out of school and become her occasional, commitment-free lover. And given that he was a consistent voice throughout the film, I’m wondering why? It just didn’t work for me.
Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story
I would love to write something poetic enough about elegance in the face of grave danger to adequately honor her, but I’ll have to admit that humility keeps me from doing so. Anything that we make, write, imagine—including this film—will be trite in comparison with the poetry of how Jackie Shane lived her life. So, what I’m going to tell you is: find as much as you can. Watch this film, read something, listen to her music. If you don’t know Jackie, then you don’t know enough about courage.
Roleplay
Forty percent is considerable. When you see a 40% off tag, you’re going to have a hard time turning down something you’ve coveted. So when a figure like 40% comes at you in reference to the number of Tulane Students who have been sexually assaulted, the world stands still for a hot minute.
Cue: a #goals level community theatre organization. Annnnnnd ACTION!
The Tulane University students created and performed an incredibly groundbreaking theatrical production. Roleplay the film gives us a backstage pass. The students’ production is available for purchase so other colleges and universities are following suit. Hoping it will be done here in town! It changed me. Access to these brilliant young minds and what they’ve accomplished got to me on a cellular level. I remembered to be hopeful for a moment. I do know that.
Thank you, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story
I won’t drag this out. The Band watched it with us, and Deepak Chopra led the Q&A. Never saw that coming! The series premieres on Hulu Apr. 26. It’s going to be really great.
The Ones That Got Away . . .
As I intimated earlier, seeing films at SXSW this year was a competitive sport. I was locked out off seeing Secret Mall Apartment, The Fall Guy, Doin’ It, She Looks Like Me and a healthy dose of others I could have been watching instead of standing in line for the ones I didn’t get into. On the flip side, the music end of the week was under-attended, so we were able to see lots of great bands without a single line to wish we could skip.
And I made a playlist:
Burn Notice: I left off Mogwai because they were so precious that they had Austin City Limits reserve the entire middle section of the mezzanine for the handful of “friends” that showed up only to talk over their music and the ushers wouldn’t even let us use the walkway to access the restrooms.
All things considered, SXSW 2024 was a well rounded feast for the senses. Sweet, savory and bitter at times. And, like barbecue sauce, there was something for anybody!
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