American Movie

Aroview: Touching a particular nerve in wannabe film-makers and struggling artists, this wonderful documentary finds a central character in aspiring Wisconsin film-maker, Mark Borchardt, that few works of fiction can match.

A loquacious, charming redneck with an encyclopedic film knowledge and obsessive ambition, the film follows his attempt to get his feature film project off the ground, a seemingly-doomed endeavour given the absence of funds and the rag-tag bunch of locals he has for support. While there's a certain perverse pleasure in seeing his dogged determination veer close to psychosis, it is more surprising and satisfying to see him emerge with grace in tact. As well as being a great 'movie movie', this can also join that select band of films dedicated to pursuit of the 'American Dream'.

NZ International Film Festival 1999

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