Drugs, sex, rock and roll, with a small dose of gluttony, these are some of the staples of America–at least according to a Frenchmen. America as Seen by a Frenchman is a semi-satirical documentary that focuses on the ins and outs of the American people. As this Frenchman (Jean Cocteau) travels throughout the United States–land of the free, home of the brave–he examines the peculiar way of life for the people that he sees and documents his journey along the way. He’s honest, and a bit crude, in his approach when analyzing the American way, but his travels are interesting nonetheless.
If we’re being honest with ourselves, the French have never possessed a particularly fond view of the United States or the people who live in it. This reality makes it a bit more difficult to accept the things that Cocteau says throughout the course of America as Seen by a Frenchman, as he’s likely been exposed to negativity regarding America throughout his adult life. Regardless, hearing some of the things that outsiders think about Americans is quite funny, as the things we typically view as normal are seen as anything but in other cultures. There are even parts of this film to which my jaw dropped a little, and I questioned the integrity of our culture. Things like horses diving into pools, kids kicking sand at a wall, and a couple of strangers coming dangerously close to having sex on the beach during a photoshoot strengthened the reality that America as Seen by a Frenchman is, to say the least, odd.
As these images appeared on my television screen I even went as far as to ask if the things I was seeing were in fact real. I know that a majority of America as Seen by a Frenchman is dedicated to poking fun at America, and fabricating the reality of what Cocteau saw on his pilgrimage toward understanding western culture would be an easy way to strengthen his point of view. I’m a cynic, and I tend not to trust strangers–I’m well aware of this fact. Understanding my way of thinking, I had no choice but to accept what was on screen and chalk the skepticism up to my sometimes small way of thinking.
Let’s talk about the pacing of America as Seen by a Frenchman. My goodness; it feels at times as if I’m sitting in the back of a car as a child traveling for hours throughout the ridiculousness of the country. Sure, the film is only an hour and a half in length, but the incredibly slow pace of the film sometimes becomes far too harrowing in which to pay attention. It’s interesting to see the many sides of the American world, but I found myself, on numerous occasions, bored of how slowly writer-director François Reichenbach, co-writer Chris Maker, and Cocteau tell this story.
I’m an American through and through, and while I understand that there are some ridiculous traditions that exist within the walls of this melting pot, I love learning about the culture and the history of what I believe is the greatest country in the world. America as Seen by a Frenchman attempts to challenge the legitimacy of American culture while subsequently shining light on all that the country and its inhabitants have to offer. The film is a unique history lesson, though it’s not for everyone. It’s important to have thick skin when someone is poking fun at all that you know and love, and that’s what it takes to appreciate America as Seen by a Frenchman. It’s slow and often a bit dreary, but the film finds ways to resonate with viewers.
Directed by François Reichenbach.
Written by Chris Marker & François Reichenbach.
Starring Jean Cocteau, June Richmond, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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