Magnolia Pictures has dropped a trailer for the upcoming doc “Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins.” Janice Engel’s film honors the political columnist’s legacy and infamous sense of humor.
Described as a “Texas maverick who spoke truth to power and gave voice to those that had none,” Molly Ivins used her sharp humor to mobilize and protect the people, and expose bad government.
“We keep pretending that the political spectrum runs from right to left. It doesn’t. It runs from top to bottom. It’s not those people in Washington, it’s not those people in your state capital, this country is run by us,” Ivins says in the spot.
In an interview with Women and Hollywood, Engel discloses that the inspiration for “Raise Hell” came to her when she saw the one-woman play “Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins.”
“Both Molly and I shared a similar trajectory: a deep distrust of patriarchal authority and a need to stand up for the underdog. Her politics are my politics, and as her pal Kaye Northcott so aptly says, ‘Molly hated anyone who would basically kick a cripple.’ Me too!” the award-winning filmmaker shared.
“Motorcycle Women” and “The Road to Miss America” are among Engel’s previous credits. She wrote “Raise Hell” with Monique Zavistovski.
The doc will hit Texas theaters August 30, and will be released in NY and LA on September 6.
