CONWAY, Ark. (September 7, 2021) – The
Windgate Museum of Art (WMA) at Hendrix College is proud to announce its new
film series, Cinema and the Changing American South, presented in
conjunction with the exhibition, Southbound: Photographs of and about the
New South. This compelling series of ten films begins Sept. 22 and will be
screened in the Hundley-Shell Theater, free of charge and open to all. Reservations are required, as is masking, in
keeping with campus pandemic protocols.
Cinema and the
Changing American South highlights the stories and experiences
of Southerners through a range of diverse cinematic selections. In dialogue
with the Southbound exhibition, this series offers nuanced and evocative
depictions of Southern culture through a collection of films set in various communities
in the region. Viewers will encounter everyday citizens as well as trailblazers
and icons. Additionally, audiences will discover how music, food, and other
aspects of lived culture shape a community and create a spirit of togetherness.
While also dispelling misconceptions about the region, Cinema and the
Changing American South shows that “Southernness” has a complex and
multifaceted meaning.
All screenings will be followed by
panel discussions to further illuminate the films and engage with audience
members. JaZmyn Shambley, Museum Associate in Film at the WMA and a junior Film
and Media Studies major, serves as the series curator. Dr. Joshua Glick,
Isabelle Peregrin Odyssey Assistant Professor of English—Film and Media
Studies, serves as the advisor for film programming at the WMA.
Individual films in the series include:
Minari—directed by Lee
Isaac Chung (2020), Sept. 22, 7 p.m.
Nominated for six Academy
Awards, A24’s Minari follows a Korean-American family as they face hardships
while trying to adapt to their new home in rural Arkansas. This heartwarming
tale, filled with exquisitely lush cinematography and touching performances, showcases
the power of a persevering family. Moreover, Minari exemplifies the
South’s challenges and opportunities for newcomers embracing the region as
their home.
To Kill a Mockingbird—directed by Robert
Mulligan (1962), Sept. 29, 7 p.m.
Based on Harper Lee’s 1960
bestselling novel, this classic work of cinema constitutes a portrait of 1930s
Southern America, shining a spotlight on a deeply racist society. To Kill a
Mockingbird follows a virtuous lawyer and father of two who defends a Black
man falsely accused of raping a White woman. The film tells a story of justice
that stands the test of time.
Gay Chorus Deep South—directed by David
Charles Rodrigues (2019), Oct. 13, 7 p.m.
Gay
Chorus Deep South features The Gay Men’s Chorus of San Francisco, who combat
the raging anti-LGBTQ+ laws throughout the Bible Belt with the power of their
collective voice. This moving documentary touches on how music can be used to amplify
and propel an important social movement.
The Night of the Hunter—directed by
Charles Laughton (1955), Oct. 27, 7 p.m.
The Night of the Hunter, a haunting
yet lyrical work of film noir, stands as an underrated cult classic. This
Southern horror film follows a murderous preacher, known for killing women, in
his relentless search for buried money. Night of the Hunter is
referenced by everyone from the Coen Brothers to Spike Lee. With its chilling
cinematography and memorable performances, audiences are in for an eerie
evening.
Thelma & Louise—directed by Ridley
Scott (1991), Nov. 3, 7 p.m.
Tired
of their confined and monotonous day-to-day lives, two best friends decide on a
spontaneous road trip, one filled with crime, intrigue, and adventure. Thelma
& Louise pioneered the feminist road film, upending genre norms and
conceptions and helping to redefine the “Southern Woman.”
Mudbound—directed by Dee
Rees (2017), Nov. 10, 7 p.m.
Set in rural Mississippi
during the aftermath of WWII, Mudbound portrays two families adapting to
life after war. Each family attempts to nurture a bond despite the intense
racial segregation that permeates American society. This pertinent historical
picture, based on Hillary Jordan’s award-winning 2008 novel by the same name, offers
a unique and memorable perspective on the Jim Crow South.
Yum, Yum, Yum! A Taste of
the Cajun and Creole Cooking of Louisiana—directed by Les Blank (1990)
and
Chef’s Table: BBQ: Tootsie Tomanetz—Executive Producer David Gelb
(2020), Nov. 17, 7 p.m.
Join us for a night of
delectable food—on screen and off. In Les Blank’s short film, Yum, Yum, Yum!,
viewers will get a taste of Cajun and Creole culture and a look into its delicious
cuisine. Following the film will be an
episode of Netflix’s Chef’s Table: BBQ. Viewers will meet Texas
legend Tootsie Tomanetz as she shares her moving life story and the cooking
that made her restaurant, Snow’s BBQ, famous. These short films deliver true
and heartfelt representations of the region. Southern hospitality and love exist
not only in the food, but also in so many aspects of the community from which
it is made. A sampling buffet of Cajun and barbeque dishes will precede the
screening at 6 p.m.
Respect Yourself: The Stax
Records Story—directed
by Robert Gordon and Morgan Neville (2007), Dec. 1, 7 p.m.
From
Isaac Hayes to The Staple Singers, The Stax Records Story highlights some
of its biggest artists from the Memphis-based record label. This fascinating documentary
provides a look into the history of the Stax studio while also introducing
audiences to the mix of soul, blues, R&B, and funk that comprised the “Memphis
sound” of the ’60s and ’70s. Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, The Stax Records
Story is an amalgamation of Memphis history, music history, and Black
history.
Hale County This Morning,
This Evening—directed by RaMell Ross (2018), Dec. 8, 7 p.m.
This poetic 2018
documentary offers an intimate look at Black life in Hale County, Alabama. The experimental
nature of Hale County This Morning, This Evening captures the everyday
lives of various individuals, illuminating the New South in a uniquely engaging
way.
For more information about WMA programming,
follow @windgatemuseum
on Instagram and @WMAatHDX on
Facebook, or contact Sarah Donaghy, Curator of Education, at
501-328-2385 or donaghy@hendrix.edu.
About the
Windgate Museum of Art
The
Windgate Museum of Art is the new art museum located on the campus of Hendrix
College. With a vision to be the premier teaching art museum in Arkansas, the
WMA presents outstanding art exhibitions, compelling educational programs, and
invigorating social activities for students, faculty, staff, and visitors to
campus. Free and open to all, the museum uses hands-on experiences to train
students in all facets of museum work, including curatorial research,
collection management, educational and social programming, marketing, and
communications, as well as all aspects of exhibition research, planning,
installation, and evaluation. The Windgate Museum of Art is made possible with
the generous support of the Windgate Foundation and the Alice L. Walton
Foundation.