SUPPORT THE GIRLS

Saturday, January 19, 2019 
Crowley Theater
7:30 PM
Free

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In this tumultuous time of #MeToo, girls speaking out, and women taking on greater leadership roles, the film “Support the Girls” is particularly relevant. Marfa Live Arts presented a free screening of Andrew Bujalski’s highly acclaimed film on Saturday January 19 at 7:30 pm at the Crowley Theater.

 

The film tells the story of a group of young women working at a Hooters-type restaurant, and shows the trials and tribulations of working in a low wage job, as they struggle daily to hold on to their dignity. Regina Hall stars as the sports bar’s big-hearted manager, and over the course of one challenging day, her incurable optimism is tested by sketchy employees, nasty customers, and a slimy boss, but somehow she holds the sisterhood together with grit and humor. Starring Regina Hall, Haley Lu Richardson, Brooklyn Decker, Lea DeLaria and James Le Gros, the film was named to many year-end best of the year lists, including those of Barack Obama and New York Times critics A.O. Scott and Manohla Dargis.

       

Writing in The New York Times, A.O. Scott wrote, “If I had to pick one movie moment to sum up 2018, it would probably be the last scene of “Support the Girls”… The movie ends with three women screaming on a roof. Not in terror (as women onscreen so often do), but in rage, frustration and a kind of righteous, rebellious glee. They are venting and protesting, having endured an endless cycle of everyday racism, sexism and exploitation. As an ending, it feels triumphant and bleak at the same time, which may be why I keep coming back to it.” Critic Manohla Dargis added, “ I was up on that roof, at least in spirit. In some ways, this sisterly scream is the signature image for the past year. Scarcely a week (a day!) went by without a powerful man being called out for his alleged sexual misconduct….The allegations feel emblematic of the destructive power imbalance in an industry that has marginalized and victimized women while giving free license to male abuse. No wonder women are yelling.”

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Writer and Director Andrew Bujalski was in attendance, and held a short Q&A after the film, along with Executive Producer Susan Kirr. Bujalski has been making critically acclaimed indie films since 2002, and some of his other films include “Funny Ha Ha,” “Computer Chess,” and “Results,” which shot a portion in Marfa in 2014. He recently penned the new live action Disney remake of “Lady and the Tramp.”

The screening is free and open to the public.