A literal translation of the French title would be Unusual America and this seems to more appropriately hint at the mondo movie precursor we have here. I'm not sure about the director's many other documentaries but here there is no attempt to engage with anyone, this is simple a series of visuals, unusual and not so unusual. There are some fantastic looking visuals and all in those wondrous 1950s Technicolor tints. There are far too many ice-creams and hot-dogs, processions and competitions but plenty of glorious hoardings and roadside diners too. There is mention of Chris Marker and Jean Cocteau with regard to he commentary but I feel their input must have been minimal because this really lets the piece down. Here is a pompous Frenchman pointing out US silliness and spouting faux psychological insights whilst capturing really quite fine moments in amongst the dross. Well worth seeing but maybe next time I'll watch without that rubbish commentary.
2 Reviews
Wonderful!
BandSAboutMovies22 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Known in France as L'Amérique Insolite, or Unusual America, this film is all about the 18 month journey that Francois Reichenbach, who shot the video for Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot's "Bonnie and Clyde" as well as parts of F for Fake) took across America.
With a script by Chris Marker and narration by Jean Cocteau and June Richmond (Paul Klinger did the German version), this is a playful look at America before the many changes that the 60's would bring. From prison rodeos to Miss America, Disneyland to a town of twins, this film captures the eccentric side of America, including a shocking moment where a rider continually pushes a horse to greater heights, diving into a small pool of water. While this image is upsetting, the dialogue juxtaposed with it is uplifting: "The golden age is the only time when magic is called by its proper name. It's the only time when you need to believe in miracles. When pigeons fly, horses fly. Angels fly. Man flies."
While this film was released two years before Mondo Cane, make no mistake. It is a mondo film. That said, this is the gentle side of mondo, a movie given to the celebrations of small dogs at play on FIre Island. It's utterly charming.
With a script by Chris Marker and narration by Jean Cocteau and June Richmond (Paul Klinger did the German version), this is a playful look at America before the many changes that the 60's would bring. From prison rodeos to Miss America, Disneyland to a town of twins, this film captures the eccentric side of America, including a shocking moment where a rider continually pushes a horse to greater heights, diving into a small pool of water. While this image is upsetting, the dialogue juxtaposed with it is uplifting: "The golden age is the only time when magic is called by its proper name. It's the only time when you need to believe in miracles. When pigeons fly, horses fly. Angels fly. Man flies."
While this film was released two years before Mondo Cane, make no mistake. It is a mondo film. That said, this is the gentle side of mondo, a movie given to the celebrations of small dogs at play on FIre Island. It's utterly charming.
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