66 Scenes from America (1982)

"66 Scenes from America" is an artful cinematic journey, much like a stack of postcards from a grand expedition across the vast and diverse terrains of the United States. The film, a series of tableau-like scenes, offers a captivating cross-section of the American landscape and its inhabitants. Each scene, whether it's a close-up or a panoramic shot, weaves a grand tapestry of everyday life, from the fluttering Stars and Stripes in various settings to mundane objects like coins on a counter or a diner's plate of food. With only two exceptions, a sweeping pan across a landscape and a view through a car windscreen, the film stays true to its tableau style. The scenes are not mere random snapshots, but carefully chosen motifs that together offer an emblematic portrayal of the USA. From landscapes and highways to advertising billboards and exterior views of buildings, the visuals are often punctuated by the iconic American flag. The film features a variety of characters, from a New York cabbie to celebrities like Kim Larsen and Andy Warhol, each presenting themselves and occasionally, the raw essence of their lives in front of the camera. While the film comprises 75 shots, several of them unify to form single scenes, totaling to 66. Each scene concludes with the narrator succinctly describing the content, often providing a sense of time or place, and sometimes, playfully shifting our perception. Close-up soundscapes in certain scenes are designed to subtly alter the viewer's initial interpretation of the visuals. The entire journey is further enhanced by the emotive and interpretive score of Erik Satie's Gnossiennes (No. 5), serving as the final stroke in this mesmerizing cinematic painting.

66 Scenes from America is a documentary movie featuring Andy Warhol and directed by Jørgen Leth.

66 Scenes from America is currently streaming on DocAlliance Films.

It is also possible to buy 66 Scenes from America on DocAlliance Films.