Hillbilly

Name: Hillbilly
Genre: Documentary
Released: September 28, 2018
Duration: 87 min
Rating: 67
Cast: Amythyst Kiah, bell hooks, Billy Redden, Crystal Good, Frank x Walker

2018

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Generally favorable reviews based on 4 Critic Reviews

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Hillbilly

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Movie Details & Credits

| Release Date: September 28, 2018 | Not Rated

Starring: Amythyst Kiah, bell hooks, Billy Redden, Crystal Good, Frank x Walker, Michael Apted, Ronny Cox, Sam Gleaves, Silas House

Summary: Appalachia is no stranger to the complexity of media representation. Since our country's inception, there has been a palpable divide between Urban and Rural America. Within this great divide, certain regions are viewed as "other," and blamed for America's social ills. Since the presidential election, the cultural divide in America hasAppalachia is no stranger to the complexity of media representation. Since our country's inception, there has been a palpable divide between Urban and Rural America. Within this great divide, certain regions are viewed as "other," and blamed for America's social ills. Since the presidential election, the cultural divide in America has expanded. Stereotyping and slurs are rampant, finger-pointing and name-calling abound. hillbilly goes on a personal and political journey into the heart of the Appalachian coalfields, exploring the role of media representation in the creation of the iconic American "hillbilly," and examining the social, cultural, and political underpinnings of this infamous stereotype.… Expand

Director: Ashley York and Sally Rubin

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 87 min

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Critic Reviews

RogerEbert.com Matt Zoller Seitz

Nov 28, 2018

This is an ambitious and enlightening documentary, filled with wisdom and asking great questions, some of which may never have a satisfying answer. Read full review

Hanna B

Mar 25, 2019

At the end of the day, Hillbilly still achieves to be a compelling and timely documentary raising a lot of valid points while being charming and fun. Read full review

Kevin Crust

While an effective rebuttal to media stereotyping, especially in its own portrayals of people of color and the LGBTQ community, Hillbilly feels less assured in dealing with the election, a subject that is getting a little tired but no less confounding. Read full review

John DeFore

Nov 28, 2018

Some in the area have lost some hope, seeing so many of their neighbors fall for a candidate they knew to be a snake-oil salesman. But Hillbilly is forward-looking, believing there's something special about its region-specific variety of what elsewhere would be called rednecks or bumpkins. Read full review

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Hollerback

Dec 6, 2018

"Hillbilly" isn't about the history, culture, and economics of Appalachia. It's a petty, narrow-minded, quasi-autobiographical account from a guilt-ridden, now LA-based, self-proclaimed feminist progressive filmmaker and Hillary devotee - albeit originally from Appalachia, but well-steeped"Hillbilly" isn't about the history, culture, and economics of Appalachia. It's a petty, narrow-minded, quasi-autobiographical account from a guilt-ridden, now LA-based, self-proclaimed feminist progressive filmmaker and Hillary devotee - albeit originally from Appalachia, but well-steeped in the sanctimonious virtue-signaling of Hollywood and liberal urban America.

The film is a jumble of mixed messages and troubling cognitive dissonance, sourced entirely from contemporary identity politics and culture wars. Its primary aim is to portray Appalachian people as a perpetual victim group of the media, politicians, and capitalism itself (exactly like African-Americans, immigrants, and homosexuals!) but simultaneously a group with no real agency or the will to accept "correct" political affiliations. In other words, "forgive them, for they not know what they do!" What did they do? En masse, they voted for Trump. A candidate who championed them, over a candidate (Hillary) who explicitly called them a "basket of deplorables." A candidate who said she was going to "put coal miners out of business". Appalachia (and much of "fly-over" country) voted for Trump? No kidding. Why wouldn't they? Hillary consistently talked down to them. She spoke of them wretchedly.

So, the film tries hard to make Appalachian hillbillies a sympathetic people, but still, callously and irresponsibly, a dumb and easily manipulated people. "When will they ever learn?" is the message. The filmmaker tries to reconcile her guilt and disappointment by focusing on the African-American, homosexual, punk rock hipster, and liberal "intelligentsia" of Appalachia - the few folks who truly see the light! The filmmaker doesn't take a broad view of the region and its people, rather an extremely biased and narrow view designed to appease an urban liberal audience. You see guys, hillbillies are really just like us - if only we could show them the way!

The filmmaker never once interviews a Trump supporter, or anyone with a divergent political opinion or outlook, except members of her own adorable family. A cheap move, made even cheaper by the end of the film where the parting message is that her own granny harbored desires of leaving Appalachia as a young woman but was forced to remain, due to its oppressive patriarchal social structure. You see, granny was a progressive feminist all along y'all - just a victim of circumstance.

Though "Hillbilly" and its filmmaker are well-intentioned (aren't all social progressives?) it misses the mark and betrays its own mission statement spectacularly. While it portrays Appalachian people as victims of outside forces, it also portrays them as victims of their own ignorant and savage impulses.

That message, folks, is what's truly deplorable.… Expand

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