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American Movie

United States

1999

107 Min
Color
1.33:1
English
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
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DIR Chris Smith

PROD Sarah Price, Chris Smith

DP Chris Smith

CAST Mark Borchardt, Tom Schimmels

ED Jun Diaz, Barry Poltermann

MUSIC Mike Schank

SOUND Todd Leach, Didier Leplae, Sarah Price, Doug Ruschaupt, Jason Tucker, Neil Whitacre, Peter Zinda

Sundance (Documentary Competition): Grand Jury Prize, Karlovy Vary (Forum of Independents), Vancouver

Synopsis

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.

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Displaying 4 of 15 wall posts.
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Jeremiah Hammerling

29Nov11

One of my favorite documentaries ever.

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iheartllama

4Oct11

Tragically hilarious and real at the same time. Life is kinda cool sometimes ! ,)

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Pedro

5Sep11

"Why is it a sign of voodoo?" "It's an unnatural cross, Mark." "What, you think when Jesus was hanging there he thought it was natural?"

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Don't Get Nasty Brother

20Aug11

Tengo una predilección por las películas que tratan sobre el hacer películas. Y esta, tengo que reconocer, me tocó algunas fibras. Al final supongo que no se trata de ser un buen cineasta o uno malo, se trata de sencillamente serlo. Supongo que no existen pequeñas o grandes victorias, sólo victorias. Lo veo como un extraño doppelgänger de 'Lost in La Mancha". Super recomendable.

Pedro likes this

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An American Movie

9 posts by 4 people over 1 year ago