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George Washington (2000) 90 minutes Written and directed by David Gordon Green. "I think he figured if no one would look after him, at least they would look at him."  Can
anyone still grow up to be president in America? Did
George Washington really cut down a cherry tree? Did he actually
confess? Would he have grown up to be president without this
character-forming event? Would he be our founding father without
this mythical backstory? What does this have to do with a 21st
century film in which most of the characters are black and none of them
are named "Washington"?
George Washington follows five kids in North Carolina who are unlikely to become president. It is about growing up poor, living in the South, and retaining your resolve amidst overwhelming obstacles. It subsumes plot in an effort to engage viewers on a much deeper level. It aspires to (and achieves) the mythic. It creates moments of transcendence so utterly sublime that words cannot do it justice. I don't know which shots will seep into your subconscious. Since I first saw George Washington, I've thought about hats on fire, gummi bears, accidents in rest rooms, T.M.J. and superheroes directing traffic almost everyday. David Gordon Green expands upon the memorable and meditative work of Terrence Malick. The lush cinematography, deliberate editing, and poetic voiceover echo Badlands and The Thin Red Line. Like those films, it demands (and rewards) repeat viewings. How a first-time director, straight out of film school, with severely limited resources, and an amateur cast created such an original, compelling, and enduring work should baffle critics, humble studios, and inspire filmmakers across the planet. What a testament to listening, to paying attention, to allowing kids to tell their stories. George Washington is a miracle that makes me want to be a better artist and a better person. essay by Craig
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