The American Sector

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The American Sector

2020

1h 7m

Documentary

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13 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

For 18 months, Courtney Stephens and Pacho Velez (Manakamana, The Reagan Show) traveled the US to document sections of the wall that are on display in over 75 locations, ranging from the serious (Fort Benning) to the bizarre (Main Street Station Casino in Las Vegas) and even the campus of nearby Capital University. Along the way, interviews with unusual characters who own, maintain, and interact with pieces of the wall offer a window into American culture, and through the film these Cold War relics become a catalyst for exploring today's timely issues.

Phuong Le

Guardian

Such conversations bring a human unpredictability to the solemn wreckage of history.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 27, 2023

Full Review

William Repass

Slant Magazine

The film accomplishes a restoration of sorts, allowing us to see how historical objects can confer meaning on a new context.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 21, 2021

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Richard Brody

The New Yorker

Stephens and Velez's ultimate subject is the real-world stakes of the ongoing struggles between historical myths and historical knowledge.

Nov 9, 2020

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Carson Timar

ButteredPopcorn

The American Sector is a bold and experimental film that takes the risk of taking a passive role in its thematic exploration allowing the subject to speak for itself.

Rated: B+

Jul 18, 2022

Full Review

Jake Mulligan

Dig Boston

Often locates overwhelming extremes of eccentric Americana... as though it were chasing after the modern cinematic equivalent of certain Grant Wood paintings.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 6, 2021

Full Review

Dustin Chang

Floating World

Once removed from its original space and time, does an object hold the same meaning? Its layered spatial-temporal musings on the subject make the film a delightful cinematic experience.

Feb 12, 2021

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Courtney Stephens

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Pacho Velez

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Courtney Stephens

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Pacho Velez

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Synopsis

For 18 months, Courtney Stephens and Pacho Velez (Manakamana, The Reagan Show) traveled the US to document sections of the wall that are on display in over 75 locations, ranging from the serious (Fort Benning) to the bizarre (Main Street Station Casino in Las Vegas) and even the campus of nearby Capital University. Along the way, interviews with unusual characters who own, maintain, and interact with pieces of the wall offer a window into American culture, and through the film these Cold War relics become a catalyst for exploring today's timely issues.

Director: Courtney Stephens, Pacho Velez
Screenwriter: Courtney Stephens, Pacho Velez
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 13, 2021
Runtime: 1h 7m

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