By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: William Eggleston
Country: united_states
Year: 2005
Running time: 76
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0479545/combined
Bruce says: “Robert Gordon who has worked with Eggleston for many years, edited over 30 hours of film into a 76 minute film. The footage Gordon edited is the only non-still photography that Eggleston has taken on. He passionately pursued this interest for a period of about two years in the early 70s. 90% was shot in New Orleans and most viewers will see STRANDED IN CANTON as a walk on the wild side.
“Capturing the antics of drunks, transvestites, poets and geeks STRANDED IN CANTON is a non-narrative effort that is born of playfulness. The film is autobiographical since most of the characters were friends of Eggleston. Larry Clark (KIDS, BULLY, WASSUP ROCKERS) introduced the film and referred to the period as ‘the days when everyone liked Quaaludes.’ Lady Russell, a bartending transvestite is featured prominently. Jazz great Furry Lewis makes an appearance. The most outrageous part of the film is the footage of geeks biting the heads off chickens and drinking their blood.
“The behavior Eggleston captures on film seems fictional at times. Eggleston offers a voiceover which describes the action and gives us the context of things we couldn’t possibly understand from the raw material alone. I could not recommend this film without first seeing WILLIAM EGGLESTON IN THE REAL WORLD. It is a wonderful companion piece, not a stand alone viewing endeavor. 3 cats
“STRANDED IN CANTON was shown as part of the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival.”