American Fiction - Potential
Thoughts On: American Fiction (2023)
A jaded writer finds success in becoming all he hates.
Almost brilliant, but maybe not quite. American Fiction might just be too close to itself to see what it almost does. In many ways it indites and makes fun of stereotypical presentations of black Americans. It does so with an overt attempt to present an alternative realistic vision of a black American family, but it does so by making them smart, rich, liberal and gay. That, you could easily argue, is unfortunately little more than a present day reflection of the stereotypical view of two decades ago that is mocked here; a pretentious inversion pandering as much to the yearning for views into alternate lifestyles witnessed in what is spoofed within the film. It's nothing to write home about, however. What I found to be of slight disappointment concerning American Fiction was its conclusive irreverence that borders on cynicism. In the end, our character simply accepts that he games the system, detaching himself from all of the social critique raised across the narrative. This detachment equates to an eye roll, which is comedic, but it comes without much support of genuine meaning, and so therefore comes across as cynical to me - which is particularly in style in American cinema at the moment, and something I find distasteful. I did, however, see a glimmer of brilliance in the film that it appears to fall short of truly grasping and presenting.
There is a tension throughout between the book that starts it all and the book our main character writes. And though these authors meet and have two opposing views on the substance of their work - and even come to discuss the aporia between their books - their conversation is cut short before any real drama is extracted. I felt that to be cowardly of the writers, and again, a marker of cynicism with a white person being allowed to interrupt and completely demolish their conversation for the sake of a laugh. The real brilliance of American fiction, in my eyes, lies in the scene in which we actually watch the cynical book be written. It's the only time we get to hear what is contained in the pages, and if one pays real attention, it is clear that the book itself, in juxtaposition to our narrative, is rather profound and insightful. We have this confirmed by the fact that our main character's love interest actually likes his work. Such is an indication that she sees and feels a spirit within it - just as she did his other books. And what is clear in the enactment of the excerpt we see written is that the book our cynical writer produces is a reflection of his inner conflict with his own father. This sits at the very heart of the familial drama, and is the deepest aspect of his character that he is contending with in his confrontation of the writing industry. Throughout the narrative we are then seeing the writer contend with his self-repulsion and self-distancing that bars him from a complete experience of family and love. His mother pretty much says it to him in the end, but there's no dramatic response building on the moment the gay brother is honest about how he feels about his father. My favourite line in the film suggest that it is not honourable to be unrelatable. That's where the movie is, and yet it falls short of capturing this in the depths of the drama, but comes so very close to in - not the romance itself - but the connection the writer begins to develop with others. What overrides the unconscious soul of the black family we get close to knowing is the conflict with a lost father; with the loss of family itself. But, it is rushed through in the conclusion in my view and a profound opportunity forgone for a final cynical smirk.
The final shot does have me questioning my criticism. Our main character nods at an actor dressed as a slave and then drives off with his brother. This could be read as him relating to another and therefore overcoming his detachment; his new bond with his brother securing the notion of just this. But, it may also be read as that cynical smirk: the acceptance of the persistence of the raised social issues. Ambiguity shouldn't be reduced to pretence, and sentiment isn't essential, so this final shot can remain debatable. But, I still saw potential in American Fiction above feeling real punctum. I'll leave that as it is.
