By Romey Norton - November 18, 2024
What has happened to America’s economy? From director James Kicklighter, The American Question delves into the heart of a divided America, exploring the historical and contemporary factors that have dwindled trust in communities, institutions, and governments. Narrated by political analyst Guy Tal Seemann, The American Question seeks to answer the pressing question: can America rediscover its unifying values and restore trust among its people?
Through an independent team’s eight-year mission to explore the forces that shaped America’s now divided society, the film takes audiences on a journey from historical empires to pivotal moments, from COVID-19 to the 2016 recession. If you’re a history buff or a fan of American politics add The American Question to your watch list!
The documentary-style film includes first-class, personal stories from Americans in swing state communities in Pennsylvania and Michigan. We hear from professors of law, political experts, leading political scientists, and historians, all showcasing how economic shifts have shaped and changed local communities in the USA. Interviewees include Tania Israel (Beyond Your Bubble), Colin Woodard (American Nations), Amy Chua (Day of Empire), and Yuval Levin (The Fractured Republic).
The opening is dramatic - as if we’re about to watch an intense, hard-hitting insider's documentary. The interviews are softer, so it’s not difficult to watch, but you do need to concentrate and listen to follow and understand what is going on. The film does well in being informative; it does not spoon-feed information.
Exploring America through this critical lens is important, as a leading country it has sections that are falling and failing its people, making them question what the future holds.
The film is well shot, with clean-cut interviews, previous footage, and animations, all to help shape the story and keep audiences engaged.
One section that comes up is immigration - a hot topic in many countries. From this, the film delves into gangs, crime, social welfare, family sizes, and how the American narrative can breed contempt and racism. This makes the film look at ethnic divides, including the divide between working-class whites and coastal elites.
What is the most interesting and compelling part is speaking to everyday average people, like gym owners, pharmacists, etc… who share their experiences, their views, and why they voted for who they voted for.
Towards the end, there is some insight into how things could and will improve, giving a little light at the end of this very dark, bleak tunnel. Whilst the series offers no definitive answers, it opens the question of what responsibility we have to the people who came before us and who will come after us. Frustrating it doesn’t offer solutions, just insight, but it does try to end on a positive note.
If I look deeply into it, we’ll have to severely change people's mindsets and that is done through controlling the media and social media. With the world at our fingertips and algorithms controlling what we hear and see there is a need to be more honest, and open, and this is not simple.
The end offers ways to change, from connecting with your community, to actively listening, and fighting your confirmation bias. This feels a little disappointing, as it then suggests what we should get from our leaders - when we know we don’t/won’t. Whilst the film tries to unite everyone in positivity at the end, I still left this film feeling pretty grim about our futures. And I’m in the UK.
Overall, The American Question is a thought-provoking and explorative film, for audiences who want to learn and understand what is happening in and around America.
The American Question is out now on digital platforms
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