Hillbilly Elegy (2020)

Hillbilly Elegy (2020) is a poignant drama based on J.D. Vance’s memoir, exploring themes of family, trauma, and resilience. The story follows J.D., a Yale Law student, who is drawn back to his troubled past when his mother, Bev, suffers a drug overdose. Through a series of flashbacks, the film reveals his tumultuous upbringing in a working-class Appalachian family, torn between the chaos of addiction and the love of his tough but caring grandmother, Mamaw. As J.D. confronts his past, he must decide whether to embrace his origins or pursue a future beyond them.

J.D.’s childhood is shaped by instability, as Bev struggles with addiction and a string of failed relationships. Despite her attempts to be a good mother, her self-destructive tendencies leave J.D. in a state of constant uncertainty. His older sister, Lindsay, does her best to protect him, but their lives are a cycle of moving between homes, witnessing their mother’s violent outbursts, and experiencing moments of false hope. Amidst this turmoil, Mamaw emerges as a stabilizing force, offering J.D. the tough love and guidance he desperately needs.

Mamaw, a strong-willed woman with a fiery personality, believes in hard work and resilience. Despite her own troubled past, she refuses to let J.D. fall into the same patterns that have plagued their family. She pushes him to focus on his studies, instilling in him a belief that he can escape their circumstances. Her influence proves crucial when J.D. reaches a breaking point, caught between loyalty to his mother and the opportunity to build a better life. With Mamaw’s unwavering support, he begins to see a way forward.

As J.D. grows older, he earns a place at Yale Law School, a world vastly different from the one he came from. However, his past continues to haunt him, especially when he returns home after Bev’s overdose. He faces immense pressure as he tries to secure a crucial job interview while dealing with his family’s ongoing struggles. His girlfriend, Usha, serves as a grounding presence, reminding him that he has worked hard to create a life beyond his past, but the pull of his roots remains strong.

In the present timeline, J.D. wrestles with guilt and responsibility. He wants to help his mother but knows that he cannot save her from herself. Bev, despite brief periods of sobriety, continues to relapse, leaving J.D. to question whether his sacrifices will ever make a difference. His journey home forces him to confront painful memories and make peace with the idea that he cannot change his family’s past, but he can choose his own future.

Ultimately, J.D. realizes that he is not defined by where he came from but by the choices he makes. Inspired by Mamaw’s lessons, he decides to return to Yale and pursue his career while maintaining a connection to his family on his own terms. Hillbilly Elegy is a powerful reflection on the struggle between heritage and ambition, showing that while the past shapes us, it does not have to determine our future.