Depressing
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I read "Hillbilly Elegy" a couple of years ago. I found it interesting, engaging, depressing, and, ultimately, inspiring. Vance's story of the world of rural Kentucky and Ohio was disturbing and frustrating.
So, this afternoon, I watched the movie (directed by Ron Howard). Glenn Close was amazing, as was Amy Adams.
But, if you think the book was disturbing and depressing, don't watch the movie, unless you want to get into a warm bath and open an artery.
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I will have to read the book, but the movie was an exceptionally myopic effort. I grew up 8 miles from Middletown and knew a hell of a lot of those people. My SIL's dad worked at Armco and later was the union's attorney. the vast majority of Appalachian families that came up to work there used it as a springboard to a better life for them and better futures for their kids. Even the author went to Yale from that background. If there was a purpose in that movie other than to disparage Appalachian culture I never saw it.
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There was a documentary I watched a few years ago, called "Country Boys"
It was really good and introduce me to a part of the US I had no understanding of.
Link to videoI think that the documentary deals with the same part of the world as the book that George mentions. (But note, i have not read or seen the book yet)
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@jon-nyc said in Depressing:
story has a right-of-center narrative.
Perhaps it's just my bias, but I didn't get that impression. The only scene where I thought it came close was at the Yale dinner, when someone made a "Redneck" comment, and Vance responded.
Other than the "If you work at it hard, you might get somewhere" narrative, that is.
