Low and behold movie.

http://www.lowandbeholdmovie.com/

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On the evening of May 29, I sat in seat # 2339 of the James Bridges Theatre in the Melnitz Hall on the UCLA campus and was subjected to one of the most original and unique cinematic experiences of my life. At the behest of my dear friend, Eddie Rouse, I attended the special screening of Low and Behold; a film that has taken the film festival circuit by storm and will hopefully enjoy a forthcoming wide release. When Hurricane Katrina devastated the city of New Orleans, director Zack Godshell and his writing partner Barlow Jacobs, both natives of Louisiana, felt the need to respond to the tragic event with an idea for a film that would eventually result in a spectacular achievement for the young filmmakers. The film was an official selection at the Sundance Film Festival and has already garnered a generous amount of media attention and praise.

Low and Behold tells the story of two characters: Turner Stull a young claim adjuster, played by Barlow Jacobs, and Nixon, a local man searching for his lost dog, played by Eddie Rouse. In the course of the film, the two characters develop a friendship which takes them on a heart-wrenching journey into the vast facets of tragedy, loss and finally hope. What makes this film a unique artistic achievement is its willingness to allow art to imitate life and vice versa. The film cleverly marries a fictional story with real, unrehearsed footage of the people and places that have been victimized by the hurricane. The collage of material is so seem less that I found it difficult to differentiate between fictional characters and non-fictional characters. With the help of a sharply-written screenplay, the end result is a beautiful narrative which serves as a celebration of the human spirit, a lament for those that have suffered and lost, and most importantly a definitive document of the devastation that will last forever. CNN had this to say about the film, “Low and Behold will make a big impact for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina.”

As I sat in my seat and watched the final scene of Low and Behold, I felt my nerves shatter and my eyes water. The scene is undoubtedly the most powerful of the film and will have anyone in emotional shambles by the time the end credits arrive. Much of the credit is due to the knock-out performance from Eddie Rouse and the rest of the cast. According to the Chicago Public Radio, filmspotting.net, “Rouse gives one of the standout performances at Sundance…” I also praise the filmmakers not only for their talent, but for the tenacity and boldness with which they brought this film to life. This is not corporate movie-making with big Hollywood paychecks and egos. This is not mainstream Hollywood trying to pass itself off as independent cinema. The crew for Low and Behold was no more than seven or eight people, some of which maxed-out their credit cards, working in concert with minimal resources and only one objective: to make the best and most honest film they could make. That, my friends, is called real artistic integrity.

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GeNeRaCiOnAsErE/Danny del Mazo (L.A.California)

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(Coming Soon in “GeNeRaCiOn AsErE” : An exclusive

interview with Low and Behold star, Eddie Rouse. by Danny del Mazo)