Dinner in America (2020)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 2020
	Director: Adam Rehmeier
	Actors: Kyle Gallner, Emily Skeggs, Mary Anderson
	Country: USA
	Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
	Conditions of visioning: 10.07.2020, NIFFF2020, 14" computer screen.
Synopsis: A punk rocker (Gallner) and a young woman (Skeggs) unexpectedly meet and go on an epic journey together through America's decaying Midwestern suburbs.
Review: This movie is typical of why I love film Festivals, Genre ones in particular like the Neuchâtel Fantastic Film Festival. In the recent years I have often thought that Disney (including Marvel and Star Wars) is ruining the Cinema industry by being over-present and crushing all the other genres, even though I love some of their movies. But only at film Festivals do I get to discover independent movies like Dinner in America which remind me that there are still plenty of creative film-makers around, and they manage to get their projects done. Don't count on Netflix to recommend them to me. It reminds me of the excellent surprises that were Cheap thrills, Red, White and Blue, Cold in July or The Devil's Candy, all seen at Festivals. They all have in common (maybe less the last one) a strong American imagery in the colors and the flags but not in a patriotic way, more in a recognition of the faults of the American way of life. I couldn't find a trailer or even a poster for Dinner in America as it is so recent, but reading that it was a success at all Festivals (including Sundance) made me want to watch it, and I am so glad I did. In my head I usually define Genre movies as ones which can include but are not limited to the historical Drama, Romance and Comedy. Dinner in America is in fact nothing more than those three, it has no Thriller or Horror deviation like often in movies presented at Fantastic Film Festivals. So what is it doing there? Well I guess I will have to enlarge my definition to encompass those movies which merge the classic genres in a fresh and modern way: the comedy is borderline Dark, the Romance real-life and the Drama hidden behind the Comedy. It is in fact very hard to tell why I loved this movie. I could try by saying that it is a punk-rock real-life Dark Comedy with touching characters, but that wouldn't give it justice. It may also not be for everybody, but I know among my friends the ones who would appreciate it. Additional bonuses: the soundtrack is excellent (when the girl starts to sing!) and we get in the cast Lea Thompson (Back to the Future) and the very funny Pat Healy which is accustomed to original independent movies like Cheap Thrills, The Innkeepers or Compliance. Highly recommended.
Rating: 8 /10