Playland USA

Benjamin Schindler's poetic documentary takes us on a fascinating journey through the United States, a journey in which the boundaries between facts and myths, past and future, between, dreams and reality are utterly blurred. "I feel that we live in a fantasy world 90% of the time," says one of the contributors in Schindler's film. His statement could well be the film's motto. What are the key narratives of a country that has long been such a successful global exporter of entertainment? PLAYLAND USA explores the stories that the founding fathers and mothers, nation builders and citizens have told each other ever since the creation of the U.S. began. Schindler also travels further back, as he adds biblical references and 15th century European explorers to the picture. He suggests that the term of a "post-factual world" may be a misconception: Did the enlightenment ever succeed in shining a light on what really is true? Scenes of fantasy and magic collide with references to contemporary problems such as racism, populism and gun violence. Through powerful musical and visual associations, the film creates a link between the conquest of the so-called New World to a potential future colonization of alien planets.