It takes a village to make a movie, but when that village is Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin and not Hollywood, CA, the results are at times bizarre, comical, and very American. With the help of his mother, his 82-year old uncle, and local cast of hilarious and lovable characters, filmmaker Mark Borchardt fights his way through internal and external roadblocks to achieve his goal-to make his movie, his way.
Mark’s vision for his dream film is unlike most in independent filmmaking today. His inspiration comes from films as desarate as Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Seventh Seal, as well as his experiences growing up amidst the grey skies, rusty cars, and ranch houses of Milwaukee’s Northwest side.
American Movie is the story of filmmaker Mark Borchardt, his mission, and his dream. Spanning over two years of intense struggle with his film, his family, financial decline, and spiritual crisis, American Movie is a portrayal of ambition, obsession, excess, and one man’s quest for the American Dream.
Not only a wonderfully crafted documentary, but also one of the most accurate films-about-filmmaking out there. It's an honest look at low-budget, passion-driven filmmaking set against the beautiful misery of northern Milwaukee with a charming array of personalities. It is quite a funny tale, but still punctuated with everyday troubles - alcoholism, troubled relationships, poverty. A must-see for all filmmakers.
