Hot Set: AG Picks for the 2019 New Orleans Film Festival

By: Jacqueline Davis, October 2019

With well over 200 films to choose from in this year’s New Orleans Film Festival—now entering its third decade!—you might feel overwhelmed by such a bounty of viewing options. The cinephiles of ANTIGRAVITY are here to help. So grab some snacks, silence those phones, refrain from chatter, and enjoy the show.

Excerpts from original article posted below - click here to view the full list!

NARRATIVE FEATURES

PIG HAG

Pig Hag (directed by Colby Holt and Sam Probst) is an outspoken film that exposes the savagery of modern dating for the subgenre of women who do not meet the L.A. standard of beauty. Jodie, a 36-year-old travel nurse, must grapple with her fear of forever being alone, someday becoming “someone’s weird aunt.” The film focuses on Jodie’s experience with Dustin, a fellow Guns ‘N Roses fan who she meets after the concert. They spend the evening together, sharing tall boys and later their bodies. To no one’s surprise, Dustin ghosts Jodie the next day, leading her into emotional turmoil, trying to make sense of where she went wrong by replaying their short-lived time together—executed nicely through nonlinear editing. Though at times a bit disorienting, this device serves the narrative of the film well, offering a POV of Jodie’s memory—one that is filled with painful, yearning recollections of Dustin. Pig Hag will oddly have you laughing at Jodie, even in her most despairing moments. These vulnerabilities ultimately make Pig Hag a riveting film that will have you both smiling and cringing. (Monday 10/21 and Wednesday 10/23, CAC) —Jacqueline Davis

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

A WOMAN’S WORK: THE NFL’S CHEERLEADER PROBLEM

Feminism and football clash in this documentary by producer-director Yu Gu, which recounts the controversial court case of 2014 where two former NFL cheerleaders filed lawsuits against their teams (the Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills) for wage theft. The two cheerleaders describe their lives behind the pom poms, which included below minimum wage pay and forced “volunteerism” for various community activities, with zero compensation for gas and other expenses. The film does an excellent job exploring the history of the NFL cheer league in general, giving us perspectives on both sides of the argument. Yu interviews the older generation of dancers, who argue cheering for the NFL is a “privilege,” despite the lack of wages—a fantasy these women were led to believe for the past 50 years. What is so honorable about the film is Yu’s two subjects, who do not take on a victim narrative. Instead, they are emboldened women working hard for a change in times of adversity—not just for the sake of themselves and their families, but for the future of women overall. (Saturday 10/19 and Wednesday 10/23, New Orleans Advocate) —Jacqueline Davis

DOCUMENTARY SHORTS

https://antigravitymagazine.com/feature/hot-set/

BEIRUT ON THE BAYOU

Based on the novel under the same title, Beirut on the Bayou showcases a brief and beautiful narrative, intertwining Lebanese author Raif Shwayri’s family history with Lebanese culture as a whole, with special emphasis on Lebanese Cajuns and how they came to be an integral part of Bayou culture. Director and producer Brent Joseph features Raif Shwayri in the film, tracing the history of Alfred Nicola, Shwayri’s grandfather, who escaped from the Ottoman Empire in Beirut, Lebanon. A generous and self-sacrificing man, Nicola made a life for himself and his family in New Orleans, later peddling down Bayou Lafourche, where he befriended the surrounding communities, earning the nickname Sweet Papa. In addition to interviews, the film uses visually compelling images to follow the narrated history, playing both Arabic and Cajun music, which ties the story together perfectly: two very different yet merging cultures, working together in harmony. (Sunday 10/20 and Tuesday 10/22, CAC) —Jacqueline Davis