''White Lightnin is a 2009 dramatic film directed by Dominic Murphy and written by Eddy Moretti and
Shane Smith. It stars
Edward Hogg
Edward Hogg (born 26 January 1979) is an English actor, known for portraying Jesco White in '' White Lightnin, Stephen Turnbull in '' Bunny and the Bull,'' Eugene Mathers in ''Indian Summers,'' Segundus in ''Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell'', ...
,
Carrie Fisher
Carrie Frances Fisher (October 21, 1956 – December 27, 2016) was an American actress and writer. She played Princess Leia in the ''Star Wars'' films (1977–1983). She reprised the role in'' Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' (2015), ''The Last ...
,
Muse Watson
Muse Watson (born July 20, 1948) is an American stage and screen actor. He became known for his roles as Ben Willis, the primary antagonist in the ''I Know What You Did Last Summer'' franchise, Charles Westmoreland on the Fox television series ...
. Inspired by the life of
Jesco White, an Appalachian
mountain dancer,
[
] it was shown at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.
[
]
Plot
Jesco White (
Edward Hogg
Edward Hogg (born 26 January 1979) is an English actor, known for portraying Jesco White in '' White Lightnin, Stephen Turnbull in '' Bunny and the Bull,'' Eugene Mathers in ''Indian Summers,'' Segundus in ''Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell'', ...
) is the last of the
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the B ...
mountain dancers. He is the son of D. Ray White (
Muse Watson
Muse Watson (born July 20, 1948) is an American stage and screen actor. He became known for his roles as Ben Willis, the primary antagonist in the ''I Know What You Did Last Summer'' franchise, Charles Westmoreland on the Fox television series ...
), the greatest mountain dancer of all time. Ever since Jesco was a child, D. Ray tried to keep him on a straight path—one that would put him on the right hand of the Lord. Dancing was just one way to keep Jesco from losing his soul. But from a young age, there was temptation drawing him away from D. Ray, away from the dancing. There were the voices in his head, tormenting him. Maybe that is why Jesco loved to get high.
Hooked on
sniffing gas, glue, lighter fluid, and airplane cement, Jesco was constantly finding himself in trouble with the law. He landed in the
reform school
A reform school was a penal institution, generally for teenagers mainly operating between 1830 and 1900.
In the United Kingdom and its colonies reformatories commonly called reform schools were set up from 1854 onwards for youngsters who wer ...
more than once, and it was here that he spent most of his adolescence, left to endure the horror of the voices.
Years after his time in reform school, Jesco had made the best of staying true to his daddy's word. He tried to stay as straight as he could, and used the dancing to do so. But the devil has his ways too, and soon Jesco was back to his old vices. On his way around the south, dancing and performing in whatever local dives he could, Jesco met the woman of his dreams—four-foot three-inch Enid Carter (
Carrie Fisher
Carrie Frances Fisher (October 21, 1956 – December 27, 2016) was an American actress and writer. She played Princess Leia in the ''Star Wars'' films (1977–1983). She reprised the role in'' Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' (2015), ''The Last ...
). Jesco renames her Percilla. An off-beat pair, the two managed to keep all their wickedness inside the family.
Long and Davie—the two men responsible for dragging D. Ray years earlier behind their pickup until he was dead, are released from prison because of a trial error. It was as though God were testing Jesco again, tempting him with the taste of revenge. And so this temptation is satisfied, and Jesco got the revenge he craved, brutally torturing and murdering the two. After accidentally killing the officer who comes to arrest Jesco, he takes to the woods. Jesco hid himself in the cabin deep in the West Virginia hills previously inhabited by the preacher, whose voice Jesco constantly hears in his head. Jesco encounters God, cutting and chopping himself until he dies to expiate himself of his sins.
Cast
*
Edward Hogg
Edward Hogg (born 26 January 1979) is an English actor, known for portraying Jesco White in '' White Lightnin, Stephen Turnbull in '' Bunny and the Bull,'' Eugene Mathers in ''Indian Summers,'' Segundus in ''Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell'', ...
as Jesco White
**
Owen Campbell as Young Jesco White
*
Carrie Fisher
Carrie Frances Fisher (October 21, 1956 – December 27, 2016) was an American actress and writer. She played Princess Leia in the ''Star Wars'' films (1977–1983). She reprised the role in'' Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' (2015), ''The Last ...
as Cilla
*
Kirk Bovill
Kirk Bovill (born January 17, 1961) is an American actor, writer, voice-over artist and producer. His film credits include ''Vice'', ''20th Century Women'', ''Free State of Jones'', '' Get on Up'', ''Contraband'', ''Texas Killing Fields'', ''Whi ...
as Long
*
Muse Watson
Muse Watson (born July 20, 1948) is an American stage and screen actor. He became known for his roles as Ben Willis, the primary antagonist in the ''I Know What You Did Last Summer'' franchise, Charles Westmoreland on the Fox television series ...
as D. Ray White
Gallery
File:Muse Watson.png, Muse Watson
Muse Watson (born July 20, 1948) is an American stage and screen actor. He became known for his roles as Ben Willis, the primary antagonist in the ''I Know What You Did Last Summer'' franchise, Charles Westmoreland on the Fox television series ...
(pictured in 2009) played the protagonist's father D. Ray White
File:Carrie Fisher 2013-a straightened.jpg, Carrie Fisher
Carrie Frances Fisher (October 21, 1956 – December 27, 2016) was an American actress and writer. She played Princess Leia in the ''Star Wars'' films (1977–1983). She reprised the role in'' Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' (2015), ''The Last ...
(pictured in 2013) played Cilla
File:Kirk Bovill.jpg, Kirk Bovill
Kirk Bovill (born January 17, 1961) is an American actor, writer, voice-over artist and producer. His film credits include ''Vice'', ''20th Century Women'', ''Free State of Jones'', '' Get on Up'', ''Contraband'', ''Texas Killing Fields'', ''Whi ...
(pictured 2009) played Long
Production
''White Lightnin was filmed with a
$2 million budget. Although the story takes place in West Virginia it was mostly filmed in
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...
, though additional shooting was done in West Virginia.
[Thomas, Archie (29 October 2007)]
"Ed Hogg steps into ''White Lightnin"
''Variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
''. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
Reception
''White Lightnin' ''received positive reviews from critics receiving an 81% based of 16 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
Awards
* Golden Gateway of India Award 11th
Mumbai Film Festival
The Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) is a public trust that organises the annual international film festival in Mumbai famously known as the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. Actor, producer and author Priyanka Chopra Jonas is the Chairperson ...
2009
* "Golden Hitchcock" at the Dinard Festival of British Film, 2009
*
Fantasia Festival
Fantasia International Film Festival (also known as Fantasia-fest, FanTasia, and Fant-Asia) is a film festival that has been based mainly in Montreal since its founding in 1996. Regularly held in July of each year, it is valued by both hardcore ...
"Jury Prize for Best First Feature"
[
]
* British Independent Film Awards Most Promising Newcomer for Edward Hogg
References
External links
*
{{VICE Media
Vice Films films
2009 films
British drama films
Films shot in Croatia
Films set in Appalachia
2000s English-language films
2000s British films