Film Review: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AMERICA: A Compelling Exploration of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness [Tribeca 2019]

A Day in the Life of America Review

A Day in the Life of America (2019) Film Review from the 18th Annual Tribeca Film Festival, a movie directed by Jared Leto.

A Day in the Life of America is, first, a really interesting concept for a documentary. On July 4, 2018, film crews in all 50 states carried out interviews with Americans who spoke about what America meant to them. The end product is an amalgamation of perspectives from all over the social and political spectrum, many of which have similar themes in common- even if those themes have drastically different manifestations between people.

With footage from all 50 states, the film boasts a stunning array of images. It is a visual treat before any intellectual or human aspects are even brought in. The film’s visual style is aesthetically pleasing both with the provision of several fantastic views and with the visual on-screen markers labeling each state. Patriotic or not, any viewer will appreciate what they see onscreen, especially as it is accompanied by powerful and emotional music performed by director Jared Leto’s band, 30 Seconds to Mars.

At a time when America is so socially and politically polarized, I wondered whether the filmmakers would come down on one side or attempt a “we are all Americans”-type message. Ultimately, A Day in the Life of America expresses each of these viewpoints at different times. It offers plenty of “American Dream” stories about people who credit America for their access to, quite literally, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These are juxtaposed with perspectives about how far America still has to go in order to truly be the nation it’s meant to be. Sometimes- and most powerfully, in my opinion- these two perspectives are even espoused by the same person. I very much enjoyed the aspect of the film that allowed me to learn about how people all over the nation and in many walks of life view America. It exposed for me some fascinating similarities among Americans and helped me to begin to understand people whose views are different from mine.

Disturbingly, the documentary gives several minutes of screen time to KKK members. At no time does the film imply a judgment or affinity with perspectives of any person over another, and this objectivity holds true throughout the KKK portions as well. Although I believe that the project’s premise is an interesting and important one, I feel that it’s irresponsible to give space to this viewpoint without clearly denouncing it. Offering a variety of American political views is one type of objectivity, but portraying a murderous cult without judgment is another entirely, and it is unacceptable.

A Day in the Life of America loses focus a couple of times, to its detriment. Firstly, while it shows certain states multiple times (California and New York come to mind), some states are never shown, which feels a little bit disappointing. In terms of discussion content, although 80-90% of the film showcases everyday Americans discussing their understanding of America, a few stories don’t mention America at all. During these moments the film’s goals become unclear. And finally, during the credits scene, a few statistics about America fill the screen. While these statistics are interesting, some of them have absolutely no connection with any content covered during the film. Here, the documentary loses its balance between telling several different stories and maintaining an understanding of what the film is, and is not, actually about.

Although A Day in the Life of America has its faults both in composition and in overstepping the boundaries of free speech, it is generally an interesting, moving work that I hope can inspire increased empathy between America’s contemporary poles. Whether or not it can manage this feat remains to be seen.

Rating: 7/10

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