The read
It runs a compact 1h 0m.
Synopsis
From dreamy aerial opening shots, we are sent on an expedition through the storied land of our fifth most populous state, Illinois, often called a miniature version of America. Deborah Stratman’s experimental documentary explores how physical landscapes and human politics can each re-interpret historical events. Eleven parables relay histories of settlement, removal, technological breakthrough, violence, messianism, and resistance. Who gets to write history—physical monuments, official news accounts, or personal spoken-word memories?
Ratings
IMDb7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes100%
Metacritic73/100
6 audience votes
Key crew
- Deborah StratmanDirector
- Deborah StratmanScreenplay
Cast
- C. Felton Jennings IIHimself
- Anna ToborgHerself
- Joshua FriemanHimself
- José OubrerieHimself
- Daniel VerdierHimself
- David GattenHimself
Themes
faithtechnologyillinoisforcewoman directorparables