Review of American Movie (1999) by Hannibal O — 25 Apr 2008

"You get to see Americans and American dreams, and you won't walk away depressed after seeing this." That's Wisconsin filmmaker Mark Borchardt describing his years-in-the-making epic, Northwestern.

However, his words just as easily apply to this documentary, which details Borchardt's failed attempts to launch production of Northwestern and subsequent determination to complete a short horror film, Coven.

This is a funny and moving portrait of Borchardt, his community and his dream. What struck me was how, despite all his personal and financial problems, Borchardt remained a true believer in the American Dream and he clung to it with an unusual tenacity.

The disparity between his vision of himself as a successful filmmaker leading the good life and his mundane reality of delivering newspapers and vacuuming crypts at the local cemetery is stark. The pitfalls of no-budget filmmaking provide some of the film's funniest moments.

The film's surprising emotional depth comes from Borchardt's relationships with his family and friends. I think some viewers might find his acid-fried, stoned friend, Mike Schank, and his decrepit an fatalistic Uncle Bill as people to be made fun of, but you'll miss the point if you think thats why they're in the film.

In one of the most oddly moving scenes of the film, Borchardt shares a Thanksgiving dinner with Schank, Uncle Bill and a few other Coven actors and crew people. This is a very non-traditional gathering but the warm feeling is evident nonetheless.

All of this unfolds against the backdrop of Borchardt's hometown, Menomonee Falls, which is the typical Midwestern small town and it becomes a central figure in the film. Anyway, check out the film, especially if you're, like me, into stories about filmmaking and the film industry.