George Washington (2000) - Green's evocative North Carolina youth debut masterpiece

♥♥♥♥♥♥

 

A mysterious, curiosity-sparking poster for David Gordon Green's George Washington

Around the rail tracks in a poor, small town in North Carolina, a group of adolescents converge, as one day one of them dies in an accident during their playful games.

 

George Washington is written, co-produced and directed by debuting Arkansan master filmmaker David Gordon Green (Prince Avalanche (2013)).

It is a classical story of loss of innocence. But that story is told here with impressive bravura in a stand-out debut that requires patience but gives back manifold. The cast of youths is terrific, and to single one out it must be Donald Holden as George. Visually (cinematography by Tim Orr (Poms (2019))) the film finds beauty in the hopelessness of its setting.

George Washington portrays its characters with humanity, love and a keen eye for the particularly American reality for a group of lives which can undeniably best be described as deprived. Green's movie has humor, and beauty and tragedy walk hand in hand in this amazing gem.

 

Related posts:
 

David Gordon Green: 2011 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III] 
2011 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]
2011 in films - according to Film Excess

The Sitter (2011) - Green and Hill's inappropriate babysitter movie is a crude hoot 

Your Highness (2011) - Green's dismissed, golden stoner/raunch adventure comedy 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: Estimated 42k $

Box office: 283k $ 

= Huge hit (returned 6.73 times its cost)

[George Washington premiered 10 February (Berlin International Film Festival) and runs 89 minutes. Shooting took place in July 1999 in North Carolina. The filming equipment was rented for cheap from the set of Dawson's Creek (1998-03) during a 19-day summer hiatus. The film earned 247k $ (87.3 % of the total gross) in North America, 20k $ in the UK (7 %) and 16k $ (5.7 %) in France. It was nominated for 4 Independent Spirit awards. Roger Ebert gave the film a 4/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. Green returned with All the Real Girls (2003). Holden did not act on film again. George Washington is certified fresh at 84 % with a 7.40/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of George Washington?