Review of By Invitation Only, a Documentary by Rebecca Snedeker
by Nicole Thibodeaux

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As an upper-middle class white woman who spent summers at finishing school, and had a grandfather and father in the Shriners, I know the whole debutante routine. My mother and grandmother, my aunts and cousins, have all followed- if not participated- in the rituals of Carnival and the Mardi Gras Ball. The social, political, and economic ramifications of being selected as a debutante, and again as a maid or queen of one of the balls, is seldom understood away from this region of the country. Like many elections in New Orleans, what goes on behind the scenes at Carnival is often rumored to be less than honest, but seldom questioned or chastised. Who wants to mess with tradition?

In By Invitation Only, New Orleans native Rebecca Snedeker provides some incredible footage of both past and current Mardi Gras Balls, and a rare look behind the scenes of one of this area’s oldest, most hushed traditions. By following one of her own family members through the annual debutante and carnival season, the filmmaker presents a very intimate view of life in the elite social scene, known only by the white, upper class, economically and politically influential families of this town.

As one who appreciates the complex social structure of New Orleans, I completely understand that you seldom get access inside any family’s personal lives without having to sacrifice the ability to ask the tough questions. I can only imagine that being a beautiful white woman from one of the ‘right’ families, and having grown to love a strong black man, has offered Snedeker a chance to see part of the not-so-often talked about underbelly of this great town.

From a strictly historical and visual standpoint, the film is excellent. I’m a bit of a genealogy buff, so I seldom turn the channel on any documentary or television program covering social history, and the filmmaker does not disappoint. If the film had been entirely for the purpose of opening the door to the pomp and circumstance behind these elaborate rituals, I believe I would be typing nothing but glowing remarks. Snedeker’s ability to get anyone to talk openly on film about one of our area’s most private, secretive affairs is impressive. Her questions are neither insulting or probing, and even her voice-over comments during interviews and segues shows the type of restraint and accommodation that can only truly be understood by another woman raised in this same environment.

While Snedeker did treat her family and friends in the film with kid gloves, her point (I think) for making the film was to acknowledge the fact that Krewe membership, and the selection of Kings and Queens at Mardi Gras, is still, to this day, a segregated affair. Whether anyone agrees with the segregation that still exists in one of this town’s oldest traditions, Snedeker’s choice to try and expose it in some way was brave, albeit not entirely accomplished.

As much as I enjoyed the inside look at life for a soon-to-be queen, perhaps the fact that Snedeker was filming her own cousin was both a blessing and a hindrance. It must have been too difficult to come right out and ask your own uncle and grandfather, “Are you a racist? Are your friends racist?” I don’t see many doors staying open after the hard, honest questions get asked, but I was perhaps even more disappointed by her interviews and footage of people outside her immediate social circle. For instance, after having gained access to the archived exhibits at the Louisiana History Museum, Snedeker chose to primarily show only the face of the curators, rather than the costumes and photos they gave her access to.

By the end of By Invitation Only, I felt like I had simply looked at an old photo album at someone else’s house; the person pointing out all the people in the pictures wanted to gossip and tell me all their deep, dark secrets, but her family name wouldn’t allow her do anything more than make jokes or insinuations, then change the subject when I asked for an explanation.

By Invitation Only will be shown at the Contemporary Arts Center at 7pm Monday, October 16, as part of the New Orleans film Festival. Ms. Snedeker will be in attendance.

Nicole Thibodeaux lives, writes, and works in New Orleans. This is her first article for NOLAFugees.com.