Austin Film Festival Day #8

We closed out AFF with Billy Bob Thorton's Jayne Mansfield's Car at The Paramount this evening.  He gave a humorous intro and an informative Q&A about how he came to write and direct this story.  In his intro he said this is not an extravagant film with high tech features and  following the film admitted "I don't even know how to use that shit."  This is a story of two families, one Southern and the other English who come together to bury their mother and step-mother in Alabama.  The casting is sensational with John Hurt, Robert Duvall, Kevin Bacon and Billy Bob.  The story takes place in 1969  with complex characters struggling with past wars, current protests, drugs, disappointing relationships and hysterical romance.  Billy Bob Thorton might not know much about modern technology but he surely knows how to deliver Southern characters who are unique and compelling and invite you right in.  A wonderful film seen by some very proud Austinites this evening.
And so we close out our 3rd AFF since arriving in Austin.   We waited in lines, saw every film we selected, made new film loving friends and so happy to see so many RTF students that I've worked with.   Looking forward to the 20th anniversary AFF next year.