Tears are a stupid trick of god

March 29, 2008 12:53 PM

A clip from the film Searching for the Wrong Eyed Jesus featuring Harry Crews (at 1:14) the film was shot for the bbc, narrated by the singer song writer Jim White, Andrew Douglas directed. More about Crews inside.

"Harry Crews
was born in Bacon County on June 7, 1935" A writer who's work includes A Feast of Snakes, Scar Lover, and All We Need of Hell.

Here, in a clip from the same film Crews tells a story about his childhood. More about his background from New Georgia Encyclopiedia, and his home page
Also a clip from the long forgotten Denis Miller Show

Previously

posted by nola (9 comments total)

Watching Searching for the Wrong Eyed Jesus a few months ago made me very, very glad I grew up in an urban environment on the West coast. The documentary presented a view of the deep South where every adult is missing an eye or an ear or several teeth or maybe just a few fingers or toes and where the main topic of conversation is the gruesome deaths they've seen/heard about. GAH! I really don't know why my rural in-laws fear the city. At least random mutilation through saw mill, mine, or hunting accidents isn't much of a problem here.

Awesome music documentary, though. Introduced me to the Handsome Family.
posted by Wavelet at 1:13 PM on March 29, 2008

This project is offensive beyond the pale for those who worship the Son of God, and who are grateful He gave His life and defeated death.



That being said, I love this. Thanks for posting it.
posted by nevercalm at 2:03 PM on March 29, 2008

offensive? how? not one part of that clip seemed out of place.

what is it about you coastal folks that makes you think that ANY of this is bad? you people are just weird. you've been watching Sling Blade too much.
posted by mr_book at 2:40 PM on March 29, 2008

Crews is one of my personal hero's. Love his writing. I need to find this movie.
posted by toddbass10 at 2:41 PM on March 29, 2008

I think he is referring to this mr_book
posted by nola at 2:43 PM on March 29, 2008

The film has its moments toddbass10 but I've always thought it would have been much better if Crews had been the guide instead of Jim White.
posted by nola at 2:44 PM on March 29, 2008

nola's right: Crews is incredible. Seconding the Handsome Family. From the film in question.
posted by John of Michigan at 3:42 PM on March 29, 2008

I love this film, and I have passed it along to many of my friends. 16 horsepower was the biggest draw for me, although Harry Crews was a pleasing addition. I LOVE Feast of Snakes... one of my all-time favorite novels.
posted by bradth27 at 8:57 PM on March 29, 2008

Mark, I think you once said this was a little too much of a freak show. I agree with that, though the film does have a lot going for it and I really enjoyed it for the most part. I like Jim White's narration because I relate to it. I moved around the deep South and I truly love it, but spent most of my life in Kentucky, which is not exactly the same. I also spent a lot of time as a kid feeling like I had to escape the coal dust of my family's past and Appalachian/Southern culture in general. Like White I ultimately grew up and embraced it, but despite the way I pronounce my long I's, I know I'll never truly be a complete part of it.
posted by Roman Graves at 10:32 PM on March 29, 2008