Thursday, March 1, 2012

McElwee: Sherman's March

I also found myself having a hard time following this documentary. However, once the film started going, I was overwhelmed with the different personalities and perspectives he encountered along the way. I was surprised that McElwee was able to capture such intimate feelings through his eccentric appreciation for the details in life. Although the original purpose for his film was to look at the impact of the destructive march made by Union troops under General William T. Sherman, McElwee is able to present different Southern cultures and beliefs through the filming of different women. Despite the apparent forward motion of society that McElwee was displaying, there was a portion of the movie that caught my attention on the subject of Southern stereotypes: Pat is talking to her friend about her audition and how her roles were very limited due to her Southern accent. There was such an acceptance seen in her demeanor, that it was kind of hard to see how much of her culture still identifies her and limits her opportunities. She has big modern aspirations, but she is ultimately unable to pull away from her Southerness.

How much of this journey really compared with the actual Sherman's March?

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