Does the tiny indie film, and recently GothamAward-nominated, “Ballast” deserve a backlash? It’s being self-distributed for christ sake out of pocket and is showing in tiny, art-house theaters only. But some critics (contrarian Armond White, sometime-curmudgeon Jeffrey Wells) think the film’s acute portrayal of African-American poverty in Memphis stinks of white guilt.
Even worse, some of these critics are also accusing the filmmaker Lance Hammer of coming from affluent lineage (who are allegedly funding his self-distribution), as if being a “rich kid’ somehow disqualifies your art. It’s a ridiculous argument and one that makes us want to set fire to anyone retarded enough to spout such nonsense. In fact, we’d like to formally request a slap upside the head to such espousers. The film is hauntingly raw and one of the year’s best. Drown out the retardation and go out of your way to see it. and we hope you can see through this paper thin argument.
Yes, the “backlash” is kind of a whole lot of nothing, but it is intensely aggravating, our strong affinity for the film, aside.[Spoutblog]
