Documentary
The feature-length documentary, TOOTIE’S LAST SUIT explores the complex relationships, rituals, history, and music of New Orleans’ vibrant Mardi Gras Indian culture while telling the story of Allison “Tootie” Montana, former Chief of Yellow Pocahontas Hunters. Celebrated throughout the New Orleans as “the prettiest,” for the beauty and inventiveness of his elaborately beaded Mardi Gras costumes, Tootie Montana masked for 52 years, longer than any other Mardi Gras Indian. Yet Tootie Montana’s contributions to Mardi Gras Indian culture far exceed his artistic innovations and dedication. Through the example of his own achievement, he came to be revered for turning Mardi Gras Indians away from gang-style violence toward artistic accomplishment and competition. In the aftermath of Katrina, TOOTIE’S LAST SUIT bears witness to the Mardi Gras Indians who, in picking up the threads of their torn lives and tradition, are the spiritual healers of New Orleans.
MOVIE COMMENTS
SIMILAR MOVIES
Richard Pryor: Here and Now
The Order of Myths
PARATUS A 20th Anniversary Special
Big Charity: The Death of America's Oldest Hospital
New Orleans That Was
Hurricane on the Bayou
Katrina Babies
Always for Pleasure
The Sons of Tennessee Williams
The New Orleans Sazerac
Yeah You Rite!
Water and the Dream of the Engineers
JazzTown
A King Like Me
Maravich's 68
A Tuba To Cuba
Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker
Louis Prima: The Wildest!
The Re-Up
GlitterBomb
SIMILAR MOVIES
Richard Pryor: Here and Now
IMDB 6.6 | Oct , 1983
One of comedian Richard Pryor's later stand-up performances. As foul-mouthed as ever, Pryor touches on most of the same topics as in his previous live shows. Filmed at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans.The Order of Myths
IMDB 6 | Jul , 2008
In 2007 Mobile, Alabama, Mardi Gras is celebrated... and complicated. Following a cast of characters, parades, and parties across an enduring color line, we see that beneath the surface of pageantry lies something else altogether.PARATUS A 20th Anniversary Special
IMDB 0 | Aug , 2025
A look back 20 years ago, on the challenges Coast Guard air crews and rescue swimmers had to overcome in New Orleans, to successfully rescue thousands of people in need following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.Big Charity: The Death of America's Oldest Hospital
IMDB 10 | May , 2014
This documentary film includes never-before-seen footage and exclusive interviews to tell the story of Charity Hospital, from its roots to its controversial closing in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. From the firsthand accounts of healthcare providers and hospital employees who withstood the storm inside the hospital, to interviews with key players involved in the closing of Charity and the opening of New Orleans’ newest hospital, “Big Charity” shares the untold, true story around its closure and sheds new light on the sacrifices made for the sake of progress.New Orleans That Was
IMDB 0 | Jul , 2022
A ride on the Zephyr at Pontchartrain Beach, a ride on the Canal Street streetcar, a journey along the New Basin Canal, exploring Lincoln Beach, watching the New Orleans Pelicans play ball, seeing the Mardi Gras Indians on tree-lined North Claiborne Avenue or just going to the neighborhood movie theatres. Visit some of the special places from New Orleans’ recent past.Hurricane on the Bayou
IMDB 5.8 | Jul , 2006
The film "Hurricane on the Bayou" is about the wetlands of Louisiana before and after Hurricane Katrina.Katrina Babies
IMDB 6.8 | Jun , 2022
A first-person account of the short-term and long-term devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, as told by young people who were between the ages of 3 and 19 when the levees broke.Always for Pleasure
IMDB 7.3 | May , 1978
An intense insider's portrait of New Orleans' street celebrations and unique cultural gumbo: Second-line parades, Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest. Features live music from Professor Longhair, the Wild Tchoupitoulas, the Neville Brothers and more. This glorious, soul-satisfying film is among Blank's special masterworks. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 1999.The Sons of Tennessee Williams
IMDB 4.8 | Jun , 2010
Mardi Gras, drag balls and politics – where else could these elements come together but in New Orleans? Interweaving archival footage and contemporary interviews, The Sons of Tennessee Williams charts the evolution of the gay Mardi Gras krewe scene over the decades, illuminating the ways in which its emergence was a seminal factor in the cause of gay liberation in the South.The New Orleans Sazerac
IMDB 0 | Jan , 2016
To make the perfect Sazerac combine one part technique, one part interpretation, and a dash of folklore.Yeah You Rite!
IMDB 8 | Jan , 1985
This award winning film is a fast paced, humorous look at the colorful way the residents of New Orleans express themselves - why they talk the way they do, where the words come from, and what it means to talk with a New Orleans accent.Water and the Dream of the Engineers
IMDB 0 | Jan , 1983
Documentary where rich social history frames a spirited debate on the development of water infrastructure throughout the USA.JazzTown
IMDB 0 | Mar , 2021
Denver’s iconic and Grammy Award-winning musicians reveal the secrets of their success and longevity in the music business while warning the young lions to whom they pass the torch to stay relevant in a marketplace both treacherous and brutal. The majestic Rocky Mountains tower over a bustling metropolis filled with steamy and romantic nightclubs where jazz flourishes on stage. JazzTown features never seen before live concert footage on historic stages that have now crumbled due to economic stresses of the Covid Pandemic. ~ Dianne Reeves, 5-time Grammy Award winner for Best Jazz Vocalist ~ US Senator John Hickenlooper (former jazz club owner) ~ Ron Miles (Colorado Music Hall of Fame, Joshua Redman, Bill Frisell, Ginger Baker) ~ Charlie Hunter (Snarky Puppy, Christian McBride, Stanton Moore) ~ Art Lande (Mark Isham, Gary Peacock) ~ Ayo Awosika (Session Singer on Soundtracks to: Wakanda Forever, Nope, Dune, The Lion King ... tours with Miley Cyrus,) and many more.A King Like Me
IMDB 10 | Mar , 2024
Follows members of the Zulu Club, New Orleans’ first Black Mardi Gras, as they work to bring the Zulu parade back to the streets for Mardi Gras Day 2022, in the face of a global pandemic, hurricane Ida and the loss of members due to COVID and gun violence.Maravich's 68
IMDB 8 | Feb , 2023
"Maravich's 68" is a documentary short that revisits the NBA legend Pete Maravich and his 68-point performance on February 25th, 1977. It includes play-by-play breakdowns, era-inspired editing, and retrospective discussion about this special night in NBA history.A Tuba To Cuba
IMDB 6.6 | Feb , 2019
A son seeking to fulfill his late father’s dream takes his band from the storied city of New Orleans to the shores of Cuba, where — through the universal language of music — dark and ancient connections between their peoples reveal the roots of jazz.Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker
IMDB 7.1 | Mar , 2013
Bayou Maharajah explores the life and music of New Orleans piano legend James Booker, the man Dr. John described as "the best black, gay, one-eyed junkie piano genius New Orleans has ever produced." A brilliant pianist, his eccentricities and showmanship belied a life of struggle, prejudice, and isolation. Illustrated with never-before-seen concert footage, rare personal photos and exclusive interviews, the film paints a portrait of this overlooked genius.Louis Prima: The Wildest!
IMDB 4 | Oct , 1999
Documentary about the mid-20th century Vegas bandleader and trumpeter Louis Prima, who showed the world what a rock show could be.The Re-Up
IMDB 0 | Nov , 2012
A backstage and on-stage look at Nicki Minaj's career during the Pink Friday Tour, festivals, and more.GlitterBomb
IMDB 0 | Nov , 2015
GlitterBomb is a fantastic 32-minute documentary that showcases the best of the 2015 Mardi Gras season. It features interviews with Courtney Act, Bianca Del Rio, Nick Jonas, Alex Greenwich, Dan Murphy and Jake Shears, as well as local identities and international tourists, each sharing their experiences and perspectives on our fabulous Festival celebrations including Harbour Party, Pool Party, Parade and MG Party.