You can understand this film if you only speak French, but this film is really a gift from France to the US. Antoine holds a mirror to our society and reflects on our culture in ways we Americans simply can't do for ourselves. He goes looking for, essentially, the American Dream. Along the way he captures some beautiful images alongside some tragic stories.
I'm pretty sure Antoine knew he wasn't looking in the right places to find the American Dream. He rides the bus in Miami, treks along southern country roads, and wanders the quarters of the old New Orleans. He roundly avoids the North and blows through Las Vegas, but he takes his time strolling down Main Street. To his credit, Antoine doesn't stalk Americans in Cowboy hats chugging Buds. He talks to the Indians, gets props from the counterculture, and gives the voiceless lots of parole. This is Europe's time to take up our hungry and tired.
My last impression walking out of the theâtre was that this film really had some structure. This is no random sequence of interviews. And this is certainly NOT a film about Antoine de Maximy. Each stop exists in context of all the rest. He talks to Americans about their problems and ends up recording all our dreams. Sometimes he throws on a voice-over as a little corn starch to hold his plot together, hence the 8 for ten. But by the time he made it through Hollywood, everything held together nicely.
Where does he spend his last night? Does he find the elusive American Dream? Hey, this isn't a spoiler, but I will say he ends up in a good place.
I'm pretty sure Antoine knew he wasn't looking in the right places to find the American Dream. He rides the bus in Miami, treks along southern country roads, and wanders the quarters of the old New Orleans. He roundly avoids the North and blows through Las Vegas, but he takes his time strolling down Main Street. To his credit, Antoine doesn't stalk Americans in Cowboy hats chugging Buds. He talks to the Indians, gets props from the counterculture, and gives the voiceless lots of parole. This is Europe's time to take up our hungry and tired.
My last impression walking out of the theâtre was that this film really had some structure. This is no random sequence of interviews. And this is certainly NOT a film about Antoine de Maximy. Each stop exists in context of all the rest. He talks to Americans about their problems and ends up recording all our dreams. Sometimes he throws on a voice-over as a little corn starch to hold his plot together, hence the 8 for ten. But by the time he made it through Hollywood, everything held together nicely.
Where does he spend his last night? Does he find the elusive American Dream? Hey, this isn't a spoiler, but I will say he ends up in a good place.