George Washington

In a depressed southern town, a band of preadoloscent friends reflect on their ambitions and relationships. When one of them is killed in a tragic accident, the rest of the group covers it up and responds to the situation in different ways. George Washington is the debut film of David Gordon Green, the director of such powerful indies as Undertow and Snow Angels. This film is a beautifully filmed and often poetic and recalls the work of Terrence Malick with its stunning visuals, colorful palette, and detracted narration. At the same time, where Malick's films manage to hold interest even in their minimalism, George Washington suffers from an aimlessness and doesn't know what it wants to be about. Instead of a film, what has resulted is something resembling a meditation. Still there is much to admire in the film, and the performances from the child actors as well as the adults are moving. The worthwhile elements of this film would be utilized in Green's later work which demonstrate a better ability at storytelling.