Where Are We?: Our Trip Through America

Director: Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman
Studio: New Yorker Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Accomplished documentarians Rob Epstein and Jeff Friedman (Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt, The Celluloid Closet) take a trip across the American South and Southwest, asking people about their hopes and fears. Along the way they interview a mobile-home salesman, gay and lesbian soldiers (including Gulf War veterans), a woman whose husband built her miniature version of Graceland, a recovering drug addict who aspires to movie stardom, a 15-year-old mother-to-be, and a casino owner whose role models include Nelson Mandela and Mother Theresa. Where Are We? (Our Trip Through America) is simple; none of the interviewees says anything profound or complex--yet the movie captures an intriguing and contradictory cross-section of the U.S., observing how people forge ahead regardless of their circumstances, seeking happiness as best they can. It's a striking portrait of resilience, illustrated with some amazing hairstyles. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful, engaging journey across America.......2006-06-28

Normally, I don't write reviews on amazon, but given that only one other person has voiced an opinion on this wonderful documentary, I had to say something. This has always been my personal favorite of the Epstein/Friedman documentaries and I was so happy when it finally came out on DVD. This is a small, personal, somtimes quirky trip across America, where the filmmakers stop and take the pulse of that great expanse of America between LA and NY. They talk to everyday people on the streets of small towns, closeted gays in the military, local eccentrics and try to find out what these people think about America, people who live on the coasts, gay people, you name it. It's not intended to be all encompassing, but shows us snapshots of rural and small town America through the quizzical, but always fascinated, eyes of two urban gay filmmakers stepping outside their comfort zones. It's a sheer delight from beginning to end and although it was made over a decade ago, the issues discussed haven't changed. We're at war with Iraq once again. There's a Bush in the White House. And most Americas still think Calfornians, Jews, and gay people are suspect. So...if reviews influence you on what movies to watch or buy (and they really shouldn't because most reveiwers don't have a clue about what YOU will like) then you have a dliemma here. One review thinks this is worthless and one thinks it's a refreshing, insightful, entertaining documentary that will appeal to ANYONE who loves docs. But I'm right, of course :)

Don't bother with this one.......2005-02-15

I'm amazed that the creators of The Celluloid Closet, that most informative film, came up with this one! This movie promises an interesting cross section of American culture coupled with quirky characters; it also is billed as a comedy. I know there are many people like that in our country, but you would never know it by watching this. In fact, I would wager that you would have to look longer and harder to find the hum-drum, ordinary folks shown here. That, along with a sedate pace of fliming, makes it hard to stay awake until the end. I never quite got a handle on what the point of it all was; perhaps that the educational system is bad? Poor grammar all around. The in-depth tour of the casino was the low point, as far as holding the interest of the viewer. It went on and on with detailed descriptions of games and promotions etc.

Throughout, the filmmakers seem to be trying to show their marked superiority over the interviewees by asking loaded questions. The worst example of this was when they spoke to an elderly gentleman, appearing to be quite near death, in a diner. He struggled to be polite, and deal with their increasingly complex questions by making feeble attempts at humor. (Excruciating to watch) I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they've not been around any aged people, and have no understanding of the confusion that plagues the elderly. I hope this is true,because if not, it was cruel, and I feel very ashamed for them.

Whatever it is you're looking for in a documentary, be it gay issues or American culture, you'll be better off picking up any doc off your video store shelf. Avoid this one, it's guaranteed to put you to sleep!

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