The Great Experiment at True/False Film Fest: A Look at America’s Current Division
EXCLUSIVE: In a recent State of the Union address, President Donald Trump accused Democrats of “destroying our country,” marking a notably partisan tone for this annual report to Congress, as mandated by the Constitution. His remarks encapsulated a divisive moment in American politics, showcasing a nation increasingly characterized by ideological rifts and politically charged confrontations.
The documentary The Great Experiment will premiere this Friday at the True/False film festival in Columbia, MO. The film delves into the complexities of American society, suggesting that the nation teeters on the brink of fragmentation. Directed by Stephen Maing and Eric Daniel Metzgar, the documentary will continue to its European premiere at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen following its festival debut.
Circles drawn in a park so people could keep their distance during the pandemic.
Filmed in black and white from 2017 to 2020, The Great Experiment aims to portray a “kaleidoscopic portrait of an America in flux,” capturing critical moments that underscore a sense of democracy at risk. According to the release, the film intertwines the diverse experiences of Americans grappling with profound feelings of disconnection and uncertainty.
Notably, scenes feature community conversations about gun violence in rural Pennsylvania alongside congregants at a neighboring pro-gun church blessing their AR-15 assault rifles. In Brooklyn, three Black friends weigh the necessity for self-defense in light of rising racial tensions, while migrants prepare to embark on a dangerous journey into a country increasingly opposed to immigration.
As stated in the release, “Through intimate observation, The Great Experiment closes the distance between these poles of experience, recasting the heated political and ideological battlelines from the abstract into the human realm.” The documentary presents a haunting reflection on American democracy, encouraging viewers to step beyond the political rhetoric to engage with the nation’s profound complexity.
The Great Experiment will also screen at the True/False festival on Saturday and Sunday, with additional showings scheduled at CPH:DOX on March 17, 18, 20, and 22. The teaser clip opens with children playing outside a church, juxtaposed with scenes of congregants preparing to have their weapons blessed.
