About
SUMMARY:
‘Bama Girl follows a young black woman’’s quest to become the Homecoming Queen at the University of Alabama, one of the great Deep South institutions. Homecoming has a rich history there, tied into centuries of privilege, tradition, and racial exclusivity. We follow Jessica Thomas’ as she campaigns for Queen, running against not only 15 other co-eds, but a strictly segregated Greek system, internal black politics, and, most ominously, a secret all-white association called ‘The Machine’ that has been controlling politics at the University for most of the past century. This is a film about the light and the dark sides of heritage — and an unexpected microcosm of electoral politics that reflects much of what is happening across our country today.
‘Bama Girl premiered to wide acclaim at the SXSW Film Festival, and has played to packed houses at film festivals across the country since then. It will be released on DVD in late September 2008 and broadcast on the IFC Channel in November of 2008. Andrew O’Hehir of Salon calls it “entertaining and provocative” and IndieWire says “See this film- it will blow your mind.”
DIRECTOR BIO:
Rachel Goslins is a documentary director and producer who has worked on productions for National Geographic, Discovery, PBS, A&E and the History Channel, among others. Her short film, Onderduiken, was acquired for incorporation into standardized civil rights curriculum for Northern California high schools. A former international copyright attorney, she is currently the Programming Director for the Impact Film Festival and directing a feature documentary on Muslims who saved Jews from the Holocaust.