DOCUMENTARY “THROUGH THE PLEXI-GLASS: THE LAST DAYS OF THE SAN JOSE,” DIRECTED BY HOTELIER LIZ LAMBERT, IS SET FOR WORLD PREMIERE AT THE 2021 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL ON TUESDAY, MARCH 16.
AUSTIN, TEXAS (March 5, 2021) – “Through the Plexi-Glass: The Last Days of the San Jose” will have its world premiere at the 2021 SXSW Film Festival on Tuesday, March 16 at 4 p.m. Central time. The documentary directed by Austin-based hotelier Liz Lambert is an official selection of the festival’s Vision section devoted to filmmakers who demonstrate raw innovation and creativity in documentary and narrative filmmaking.
You can view the trailer and find more details on the film at the official website, lastdaysofthesanjose.com.
“Through the Plexi-Glass: The Last Days of the San Jose” tells the story of a real estate deal’s unexpected detour in the late nineties, one that ultimately sparked the gentrification of Austin’s hippest neighborhood along South Congress Avenue. Through the lens of the camera that Liz Lambert carried by her side as the new owner of a run-down motel, the San Jose, viewers step into the universe of a drug-laden, often-dangerous place, impossibly full of heart, hope and humor. The film provides a snapshot of what would become one of the country’s fastest-growing cities during the early years of its messy growing pains. But most importantly, it offers a brief but powerful and intimate glimpse at some of the lives caught in the middle of the city in transition. The film casts a light on human relationships, underlying gentrification and urban renewal, and lives inside layers of knotty, unanswerable questions, all of which are more poignant than ever today.
“Today, traveling down South Congress Avenue, one of the most visited streets in Austin, you’ll find a completely different place than what I found when I bought the San Jose Motel in 1995,” said Director Liz Lambert. “At that time, we had no idea what the area would become or the change that we would spark. We hope this film will help feed conversations around thoughtful city growth and how we can better look out for those who are at risk by the impacts of change.”
Situated across the street from the iconic Continental Club in Austin, the San Jose has always had music flowing through its veins, even in the early years before the renovation. The film’s soundtrack reflects that with an original score created by Stephen Barber and Charlie Sexton and musical contributions from Fiona Apple, St. Vincent, Leon Bridges, Robert Ellis, Meshell Ndegeocello, and others.
This is the first film directed by Liz Lambert, who, after transforming the subject of the film into the Hotel San José as it is today, went on to found Bunkhouse Group, FARWEST, and Lambert McGuire Design, most recently joining McGuire Moorman Lambert Hospitality as a partner. Her new project, Hotel Saint Vincent, is set to open in New Orleans this spring. Along with Lambert, Tina Gazzerro Clapp is co-director of the film. They both also serve as producers, along with Ariel Quintans. Gazzerro Clapp and Quintans are also editors on the project. Gazzerro Clapp is an Emmy-nominated producer who has edited, directed and executive produced nonfiction television. She currently serves as the EVP of programming for Evolution Media, an MGM company. Quintans is an Emmy-winning editor and director of commercials and television, and he is currently the executive editor and creative director at Beast Studios’ Austin office.
Additional cinematography on the film was done by Jennifer Lane and Uta Briesewitz. Sound editing was done by Kathryn Korniloff. Luke Asa Giudici was assistant editor. Audio post production was by Sonicfruit. Additional camera by Andy Cadelago, Marco Fiorillo and David Perez. Engineer was Chet Himes. Mix and color was completed by Stuck On On. For a full list of credits, please visit lastdaysofthesanjose.com.
To follow the film on Instagram, go to @lastdaysofthesanjose. And use the hashtag #lastdaysofthesanjose.
