In this week’s episode of the CineAmerican Dream, the 2016 film American Honey is featured. Directed by Andrea Arnold and starring Sasha Lane, this film is a coming-of-age movie that shows us that perhaps coming-of-age isn’t all it’s chalked up to be. The main character Star continually subverts the expectations of the viewers, demonstrating that perhaps traditional ideas of growing up don’t truly represent the essence of American reality.
Through its stylistic and plot elements, we hope to demonstrate to you how the film subverts both cinematic expectations as well as expectations of America. Certain lighting and shooting selections create an aura of surprise, mystery, and suspense. This mysterious element translates to both the film’s plot and causes its viewers to ask questions about how its portrayal of America is significant, both in a historical sense and as we look to the future.
What do Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion say about America? How do these themes connect to the current day, and how is the notion of American opportunity perhaps subverted for the current working class? Does the power dynamic between Star and her primary love interest Jake represent something more than a twisted, toxic relationship? Find out in the newest episode of the CineAmerican Dream – maybe we’ll even be able to subvert your expectations.
