AMERICAN MOVIE

USA | 1999 | COLOR | DCP | 107’ | ENGLISH

In one of the few truly unexpected and instantly classic discoveries to emerge from the Sundance Film Festival over the past few decades, an ambitious working-class director from Wisconsin fights tooth and nail to complete a horror film on a shoestring budget. Far from the Hollywood glamour, surrounded by dubious collaborators and an everyday reality full of obstacles, Mark Borchardt glimpses what may be his one and only chance. The filming journey is full of bittersweet moments, where spontaneous humour meets despair. The whole community – his mother, the elderly uncle and a cast of local, eccentric characters all support Mark’s improvised attempt to realise his vision, inspired in equal measure by “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “The Seventh Seal”. “American Movie” is not merely a documentary adored by Generation X. It captures something far deeper: the cinephile’s determination of someone who pursues his dream in a romantic way.

DIRECTOR: Chris Smith
SCREENWRITER: Chris Smith
MUSIC: Mike Schank
EDITORS: Barry Poltermann, Jun Diaz

CHRIS SMITH

American filmmaker, born in 1970. Whilst studying Film at the University of Wisconsin, he completed his first documentary; around the same time, he also met Mark Borchardt, who is the subject of this film. Since then, he has directed a series of high-profile documentaries, several of which have been produced for Netflix.

FILMOGRAPHY
2024 Devo
 2023 Wham!
 2022 “Sr.”
 2019 Fyre
 2009 Collapse
 2007 The Pool
 2003 The Yes Men
 2001 Home Movie
 1999 American Movie
 1996 American Jo