Its not often that feature films are set in the Mississippi Delta, where I shot my short documentary The South Lost The Civil War. The new film BALLAST, directed by first time filmmaker Lance Hammer follows a young boy drifting through the spare flatlands of a wintry Mississippi township and a middle-aged man sits in his rural home, frozen in grief after his brother’s suicide. These striking images set in motion a riveting story of three people trying to reposition their lives after experiencing a traumatic loss. Lance Hammer won the best director award at the 2008 Sundance Film festival for his assured hand with which he tells a delicate, quietly unfolding story using understated means and non-professionals from the Mississippi Delta.
Upon watching the trailer for the film, I noticed right off the bat that this film also explores isolation and a certain mood found in the color and tone of the film. The film seems quiet, meditative and spontaneous yet confined and even features long shots of trains, a theme used in my film. Ballast opens in NYC October 1st at Film Forum. This is a must see for me, and anyone for that matter.
3 comments:
Interesting, I'm sure it won't be showing up down here 'till the DVD comes out.
have you seen it? thoughts?
I did see it. The film really translated the feel of the Delta, without trying to define the mostly undefinable dynamics of the area. The white director of the film was very careful of this. I spoke with him after the film, sharing stories of our visits there.
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