White Lightnin' (2009)

the audience applauded

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

The story of the White family is enthralling with it's history, drama, tragedy and loss. I was hoping that this would be a good theatrical version to the documentary that was done on the family back in 2009. Some of the story was good and pretty close to what was said by the true main character in the actual documentary. The acting wasn't too terribly bad but the death of his father is completely fictional. Jesse was with his father when they where fired upon. Both received gunshot wounds, his father passed from a gunshot wound to the chest. The fact that it is supposed to be based on Jesse White's life story and such an important part of his life was changed. A major event such as the death of a father is usually life altering, so the details of such should be maintained in a "loosely based true story". For what reason it was altered I have no clue, except for the shock factor of a dragging death. Personally it ruined it for me.

technically , let's say it was pretty different, black and white picture, quick cuts, very dynamic and engaging. lots of violence at first but then you realize it was not that obvious and direct. study of state of mind of a man who is definitely sick and out of control. i had no idea who jesco white was. i read afterwards about his talent and being an artist.i didn't catch it at the first and i have an impression it wasn't that important, however the film forced me to dig deeper in his story. you may either love the movie or hate it. nothing between is possible. the music is worth listening. it perfectly matched the picture and i can't imagine it could be different.

There is no better summary line than the quote I used from the Guardian! The quote is on the poster of the movie too, along with "rollicking terrifying trip" and "white-trash psychobilly nightmare" both by Vanity Fair, and they fit perfectly. This movie is definitely a trip.A trip that's worth taking. A movie that you might think is more violent than it actually is. On screen violence is pretty rare, or better put not explicitly. Apart from that, the story of a man (white-trash) is almost linear, but nevertheless confusing and appalling at once.Bottom line: You'll either love this movie (because it's not only out there, but beyond) or you will hate it, because of it's craziness! I'm not going into story details, just be warned that this isn't for the faint hearted or overly religious. You could say it offends almost everyone it can!

Seen this one at the Berlin Filmfestival 2009 and did not know what I was up for. Felt quite a bit sorry for the friends I brought with me cause it turned out to be a tour de force in part.The style, the editing, the acting - all that is pretty impressive and engaging. But mind you: the depicted life story is most of the time not a pretty sight and not for the faint of heart. The depictions of substance abuse (lighter and gas fumes) by the young Jesco White, his violent outbursts, self mutilation, up to the murders in the end of the movie... I don't know a better way to stage this in a feature film and it is supposed to be true to the life of Jesco White. Still, beware what you might be up for: could be your first walk-out in a long time.I don't regret watching this movie, though I don't know if I had gone had I known what I was up for. Besides, I was glad I could end the film festival with another movie after that... sort of to clear my mind.