FEATURED FILMS
ALMA
About The Film
Alma Thorpe’s bizarre views on sexuality, motherhood, and mail-order sweepstakes, make her a living, breathing shrine to Southern Gothic. In this intimate and darkly humorous film, director Ruth Leitman (Lipstick & Dynamite, Wildwood, NJ) follows Alma’s daughter Margie’s struggle with a mentally ill mother and an abusive alcoholic father. Framed by accusations of incest, Alma is an unflinching examination of family secrets and pain tangled up in love.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“The documentary equivalent of the Southern Gothic novel”
- The New York Post​
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“A POTENTLY PERSONAL AND RAW PORTRAIT OF A PART OF AMERICA THAT IS TOO OFTEN REDUCED TO SIMPLE STEREOTYPES. RUTH LEITMAN HAS MADE A FILM THAT IS UTTERLY TRUE TO HER UNIQUE VISION.”
- Steve James Director
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HOOP DREAMS, STEVIE, AT THE DEATH HOUSE DOOR
COMPELLING ALMA BEARS WITNESS TO A SITUATION FOR WHICH THERE ARE NO EASY ANSWERS.”
- Amy Taubin, The Village Voice.
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“ENTHRALLING, DARKLY FUNNY, HORRIFYING AND HOPEFUL”
-Maitland Mc Donagh, TV GUIDE On-line.
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“THE DOCUMENTARY EQUIVALENT OF THE SOUTHERN GOTHIC NOVEL”.
- Jonathan Foreman, The New York Post.
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“A SEARING, SURPRISINGLY FUNNY, BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED FAMILY MELODRAMA.”.
- Felicia Feaster, Creative Loafing.
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“ A PIECE OF DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING SO POWERFUL, IT’S HARD TO THINK OF ANY FICTIONAL FILM TO RIVAL IT IN EMOTIONAL IMPACT.”
- Malene Arpe, Eye, April 29th 1999 Toronto, Ontario.
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“HILARIOUS AND HORRIFYING.”
- Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal and Constitution.
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“NO BETTER EXAMPLE OF THE EMOTIONAL STRIDES DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING HAS MADE IN THE PAST DECADE IS RUTH LEITMAN’S ALMA.”
- Felicia Feaster, Art Papers
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“IT’S AN EXPLORATION BY THE AUDIENCE, THE FILMMAKER, AND THE SUBJECTS THEMSELVES OF A KIND YOU’VE NEVER QUITE SEEN IN A DOCUMENTARY BEFORE.”
- Jerry Johnson, The Austin Chronicle.