Two days after having survived an assassination attempt at a rally, Donald Trump has been formally nominated by the Republican Party as their candidate for the upcoming November elections, a convention where the former president has designated J.D. Vance as his vice president in his candidacy.

Born in Middletown, Ohio, in 1984, under the name of James David Bowman, Vance was raised by his maternal grandparents due to his mother's addiction problems and the absence of his father. 

He was a Marine, served in Iraq, and studied law at the prestigious Yale University. In 2016, he wrote Hillbilly Elegy, a best-selling book of memoirs and essays where he narrates his life and upbringing in a white working-class family in the industrial belt of the United States. A book that for many is the key to understanding why the low-income white demographic predominantly supported Donald Trump in 2016.

Four years later, Netflix released Hillbilly Elegy, a film based on Vance's memoirs, which could be the introduction for many to get to know the potential future Vice President of the United States, and also those white voters who have felt abandoned by the Democratic government and Hollywood's left.

'Hillbilly', the movie

With a cast of Oscar-winning stars in front of and behind the cameras, led by Glenn Close, Amy Adams, Ron Howard as director, and the music of Hans Zimmer, the film presents a current vision of the "American dream" and three generations of an Appalachian family told by its youngest member.

That narrator is J.D. Vance, a former Marine from southern Ohio studying Law at Yale and about to land his dream job when a family crisis forces him to return to the home he has tried to forget.

J.D. will have to face the complex dynamics of his Appalachian family, including the explosive relationship with his mother Bev (Amy Adams), an addict. Thanks to the memories of his grandmother Mamaw (Glenn Close), the tough and sharp woman who raised him, J.D. realizes that in order to achieve his dreams, he must embrace his roots.

J.D.'s family story explores the ups and downs that define "hillbilly" culture, also derogatorily referred to as "white trash", through the eyes of three generations and the unique challenges they must face.

Premiere, Awards, and Critique

It was the most-watched movie on Netflix on its first day of release, before ending up in third place on its debut weekend.

The film was recognized for its performances, and Close received nominations as a supporting actress at the Oscars, the Golden Globes, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Adams' performance was also acknowledged by the Screen Actors Guild. 

Critics praised the actors' work but accused the film of "perpetuating stereotypes about the poor" (The Independent) and labeled it as "poverty porn" (The AV Club). Glenn Close became the third actress in history to be nominated for an Oscar and a Razzie for the same performance with this work.

*This article has been automatically translated using artificial intelligence