Recently there have been a few reviews popping up on some LGBT websites/blogs about the independent film “Mississippi Damned”. The film, currently making its rounds at film festivals around the country, centers around 3 young children as they grow up under tremendous cycles of abuse, addiction, and violence.
The film is great on a number of points including amazing acting/actors, beautiful camera shots and angles (even on a low budget), and a strong, cohesive heart wrenching storyline. But perhaps what inhibited us from blogging about the film after viewing it in april was the film’s scene after scene of death, molestation, anger, and abuse. We were excited to see a queer African-American character in the film, but the amazing attention drawn to sadness and abuse seems to even overshadow the depth and beauty of the characters. Their flaws are un-surmountable and it would seem that they are all doomed from the start. That is, except for the one (young, beautiful) character in the film that ends up making it out.
This is not to say that the film should have sugar-coated the realities of the struggles in the African-American community and made a weak, light-hearted, happy ending film. Not at all. But fiction is supposed to allow for the creative re-interpretation and articulation of these issues, and not the steady lull of issue layered on top of issue.
The director and producer are to be commended for a tremendous film undertaking and for the bravery it takes to bring such issues to the forefront. But in all honesty, (dare we say) in spite of all the great things about this film we were…bored? depressed? and in need of a drink? we left the film feeling hopeless, and without a hint at a solution to the issues plaguing our community. Perhaps that’s the point?
Go see the film at a festival near you and judge for yourself.
Also, read Reviews from AfterEllen and The Advocate.
