Molly Ivins was the gun-toting, hard-drinking, Texas, Liberal political columnist you may have never heard of. Director Janice Engel wants to change that for folks that weren’t alive in the Lone Star state for Molly’s writing reign. With wit and words, Ivins skewered members of Texas politics as easy as breathing. In the new documentary, Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins those who loved her get to relive some of her best quotations, and those who never knew her grow to love her. The film starts with her childhood in Texas, move through her newspaper career and end with her unfortunate death from breast cancer in 2007.
Friends of Molly, and figures like Dan Rathers, give viewers and intimate view of a woman that was either loved or hated, depending on your Texas politics.
This documentary was a phenomenal introduction to the world of Molly Ivins, and frankly I’m angry that my fellow Texans never introduced me sooner. If you’re of the progressive persuasion, you may find yourself delighted by the barbs and jabs for some poorly behaved politicians. Even though Molly passed away over a decade ago, her words are just as important as they were during the George W. Bush presidency and before.
Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins comes to theaters September 13, 2019.
A portion of each ticket sale goes to benefit the ACLU, so I definitely recommend you check it out.
