America, Onscreen

Key Points:

• Hollywood has played a significant role in shaping both global perceptions of America and the country's own self-image by reinforcing narratives about opportunity, justice, and social mobility.
• The question of which film best defines America varies by era and perspective, reflecting the nation's diversity and complexity, especially as it marks its 250th anniversary amid deep divisions.
• Writer Manohla Dargis highlights Charles Burnett’s 1978 film "Killer of Sheep" as a profound portrayal of America, focusing on a Black family in 1970s Watts, Los Angeles, blending beauty, pain, and social critique.
• "Killer of Sheep" uses imagery and music, such as Paul Robeson's rendition of "The House I Live In," to evoke American idealism contrasted with historical and ongoing struggles, making it a powerful cinematic reflection of the nation.
• Other notable films mentioned for capturing aspects of America include Ken Jacobs’s "Star Spangled to Death," Frederick Wiseman’s "In Jackson Heights," and Ava DuVernay’s "13th."