Poussières d'Amérique
Arnaud des Pallières
France | 2011 | 100 min
Language : no dialogue
Subtitles : English, French, German
“This film is an improvisation. The subject is America. Therefore ourselves” (AdP). From the outset, a certain language, tone and rhythm come to dominate: the poetic language of analogy, the melancholy tone of grief, the hesitant rhythm of vague remembrance, lost memories. The film’s heroes are therefore not celebrities, but nameless individuals who become part of the dust of history.
The film begins with footage of the construction of a rocket designed to conquer space. Between shots, cards proclaim admiration for America, a place where one can assert oneself and get on “even if others prefer not to follow”. The story of the discovery of an unknown continent then focuses on the amazement of Christopher Columbus and the expression of a lust for power and for the submission of what is different from ourselves. From the outset, a certain language, tone and rhythm come to dominate: the poetic language of analogy, the melancholy tone of grief, the hesitant rhythm of vague remembrance and lost memories. The film’s heroes will therefore not be winners, but losers, nameless individuals become part of the dust of history. “This film is an improvisation. The subject is America. Therefore ourselves. Bits of the life of each individual. A child, his father, his mother, the rabbit, the dog, flowers, your childhood, mine, ours. The Indians, Christopher Columbus, Apollo, the moon. Each character says ‘I’. This is the private diary of each of us. Everyone’s autobiography...” (AdP).
Luciano Barisone (Translation BMP Translations)
