AMERICAN QUESTION, THE
(director/writer: James Kicklighter; screenwriters: Lucy Copp, Guy Seemann, story by Seemann & Kicklighter; cinematographer: Jonathan Pope; editors: Carlos Puga, Mohamed El Manasterly, James Kicklighter, J.D. Sievertson; music: Nicolas Repetto; cast: Amy Chua, David Azerrad, Colin Woodard, Guy Seemann (Narrator), Yuval Levin, Yascha Mounk, Tania Israel, Karen Teegarden; Runtime: 90; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Guy Seemann, James Kicklighter; Gravitas Ventures; 2024)
“Explores America as a divided country.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Documentarian James Kicklighter (“The Sound of Identity”/”Desires of the Heart”) explores America as a divided country filled with anger and frustration. It’s co-written by Kicklighter, Lucy Copp, and Guy Seemann, and is based on the story by Seemann & Kicklighter.
The political analyst Guy Sleemann acts as narrator, using Pennsylvania and Michigan as places he investigates to make his case how deeply divided is the country. Seemann at one time became disillusioned with politics and moved to Israel to refresh himself before returning to America.
Seemann interviews political experts such as Amy Chua, Tania Israel and Colin Woodard. He more importantly interviews average Joes, such as a gym owner, a salon owner and an Iraqi immigrant.
We’re told America is in decline because its values are in decline. Americans no longer completely trust their institutions, their government and their fellow Americans. Tolerance for another viewpoint has greatly suffered.
The biggest changes might be due to globalization and changes in the economy, as American jobs are lost abroad and job security is threatened at home.
American politics has largely become one of identity politics, where people are more dug in and more assertively reflecting their partisan personal views than ever before.
The film should provoke further conversations if we can possibly bridge our wide differences and maintain our democracy.
With an upcoming presidential election, the electorate has the clear choice to either stick with being a democracy or opt for a mentally unstable wannabe dictator candidate. This film sets the groundwork for seeing how America no longer cares if the presidential candidate’s character is unfit for the office.
