American Hollow

Last updated
American Hollow
Directed by Rory Kennedy [1]
Written by Mark Bailey
Samantha Bowling [2]
Produced byRory Kennedy
StarringBascum Bowling
Clint Bowling
Edgar Bowling
Iree Bowling
Samantha Bowling [3]
Cinematography Nick Doob
Edited by Adam Zucker
Music by Bill Frisell
Distributed by HBO
Release date
  • 26 May 1999 (1999-05-26)
Running time
90 min.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

American Hollow is a 1999 American documentary film directed and produced by Rory Kennedy. The film follows the extended Bowling family, residents of an eastern Kentucky valley, for a year in Perry County, Kentucky. The music for the film was composed by Bill Frisell. [4] An accompanying novel, also titled American Hollow [5] was also released alongside the film in 1999. It was authored by Rory Kennedy.

Contents

Summary

American Hollow follows the Bowling family of Mudlick Hollow, an Appalachian valley in Perry County. The family is headed by Iree and Bass Bowling, whose thirteen children largely remain in the valley they grew up in, though one, George, left for Cincinnati. Over the course of a year, the documentary shows the stories of the family, including daughter Samantha, divorcing her abusive husband who is later convicted of murder; 19-year-old Clint, a grandson whose 17-year-old fiancée twice calls off their engagement; and son Edgar, who is held in the county jail for over two weeks after being misidentified as a suspect of trespassing.

In the conclusion of this movie in 1999, it is noted that:

"Samantha Canada is now working at Mid-South Electronics and is supporting her children."

"Her ex-husband, Jody Canada, was convicted of murder and is serving a life sentence."

"Clint Bowling returned to the hollow one month after his departure."

"Shirley Couch dropped out of high school but plans to get her GED."

"Clint and Shirley remain apart"

Cast

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References

  1. "FILM REVIEW; A Family United By Home And Want". The New York Times . Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  2. "'AMERICAN HOLLOW' A CHOICE SLICE OF HILL LIFE VIVID LOOK AT NOT-SO-SIMPLE RURAL CLAN". nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  3. ""American Hollow"". nymag.com. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  4. "Perry woman featured in HBO documentary dies". kentucky.com. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  5. Kennedy, Rory; Bailey, Mark; Editions, Umbrage (1999). American Hollow. Bulfinch Press. ISBN   978-0-8212-2631-5.
  6. "Camera Works: American Hollow". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  7. American Hollow Hardcover – 1 Nov 1999. ASIN   0821226312.