Documentary film ‘Presenting Princess Shaw’ showcases local talent
By ALAN SMASON
In one of the most bizarre pairings made possible by social media, an unknown New Orleans singer became a celebrated star in Israel because of a connection her YouTube videos made with an Israeli musician and composer.
Samantha Montgomery walks in the Vieux Carré in a scene from “Presenting Princess Shaw” debuting this Friday in New Orleans, (Photo courtesy Magnolia Pictures)
Presenting Princess Shaw tells the improbable tale of how New Orleans elder-care worker Samantha Montgomery was discovered in Israel by cutting edge arranger Ophir Kutiel, popularly known as Kutiman. The documentary film directed by Ido Haar was largely filmed in New Orleans. It has received nominations at two international film festivals and debuted at the Contemporary Arts Center, 900 Camp Street. It will be seen in a week-long run beginning Friday, June 3, at the Broad Theater, 636 North Broad Street.
What makes the film even more unlikely is the clash of cultures. Montgomery, who uses the stage name of Princess Shaw, is a resident of a post-Katrina blighted and crime-ridden New Orleans neighborhood, Gerttown. She labors during the day at the Poydras Home taking care of infirm and elderly patients, but at night self-records her own original songs on her cellphone and uploads them to her YouTube channel.
Across the world, 7,000 miles away in Israel, her work is seen by Kutiman, who uses other YouTube performers’ works as well as those of his own troupe of live musicians to integrate with Princess Shaw’s haunting voice. The result is a transformative set of several vocals and a musical collaboration that is first created in the studio without Montgomery’s knowledge and then gains fame over YouTube and Israel radio.
The clash of cultures from a backwards and impoverished New Orleans to a bustling and thriving Tel Aviv is palpable. While some scenes were also shot in Atlanta and New York, the majority of the movie was filmed in New Orleans and Israel.
The native New Orleanian with crimson colored hair and a prominent set of argent braces stands in contrast to Kutiel’s full scruffy beard and curly black mop top. While she lives in a clean and orderly home in a neglected neighborhood, he lives on a kibbutz. Hers is a typical African-American dialect, while he speaks English with a thick Israeli accent and effortlessly goes in and out of Hebrew.
Kutiman views Princess Shaw via her YouTube channel before the editing process. (Photo courtesy Magnolia Pictures)
We see Montgomery’s journey from an unknown hopeful living a meagre existence into that of a genuine star on a Tel Aviv stage as Princess Shaw in front of hundreds of enthusiastic audience members. They are among the millions who have seen Kutiman’s updated videos go viral on the Internet and have heard his work over Israel radio. Haar’s lens lovingly captures the entire process of her reaching out to a potential audience, not completely understanding why, nor imagining that it could lead to a genuine career as a musical artist. He is there when she is surprised to find out that Kutiman has taken her raw, improvised songs and – without her approval or knowledge – transformed them into polished works of musicianship, which he claims. We learn that she is so pleased with Kutiman’s video manipulations that she hops a plane bound for Israel in order to thank him personally.
Their meeting and rehearsals in Israel and the live concert appearance she makes give this unusual documentary film an almost scripted treatment. But despite its incredulity, this is a real story and we are there to take the ride as Princess Shaw achieves her 15 minutes of fame in 83 minutes.
“Presenting Princess Shaw” is a Magnolia Pictures film released through Magnet Releasing. It was first seen at a special show sponsored by the Contemporary Arts Center and the New Orleans Film Society on May 31. The show opens its run on Friday, June 3 at The Broad Theater. Showtimes start at 11 a.m. Monday through Friday with tickets at $8.00 before 5:00 p.m. and $10.00 for evening shows. To purchase online tickets for the Broad Theater, click here or call 504-218-1008.
