American Honey (2016)- BFI London Film Festival 2016

163min

Genre:       Drama

Director:    Andrea Arnold

Cast:         Sasha Lane, Shia LaBeouf, Riley Keough…and more

Writer:      Andrea Arnold

-Synopsis-

18-year-old Southern girl “Star” seems destined for a life of struggle in the poverty-stricken American heartland, when a chance encounter turns into a new life on the road with a ragtag group of youngsters, becoming the newest member of a hard partying, fast living door-to-door magazine sales team in this American misfit road drama and coming-of-age story from writer/director Andrea Arnold.

After capturing the raw realities of youth in modern Britain for those on the bottom rung of the social ladder with 2009’s ‘Fish Tank’; Arnold turns her eye across the pond to the American heartland for a similarly gritty and equally hopeful coming-of-age story, told through the prism of the classic American road movie, and a provocative one at that.

Like the mainly amateur supporting cast who were chosen to give the film’s behaviour some authenticity, newcomer Sasha Lane debuts as “Star” herself; a teenager with no real family or path in life, just about scraping by when she gets the chance to break free and find some sort of belonging, if not more. And salvation comes from the company of a disparate and enterprising group of white, working-class, undereducated and socially disadvantaged youth from the American south… or “rednecks” for the politically incorrect.

This rag-tag group of rowdy youngsters is led by Riley Keough as “Krystal”, a non-nonsense southern belle and business woman who’s all about the green, leading this misfit group of free-spirited hustlers selling something which almost no one buys any more. While Shia LaBeouf delivers an uncharacteristically alluring performance as the hustler and “Krystal’s” right-hand-man “Jake”, a sweet-talkin’ self-styled impulsive salesman, who develops an unexpected bond with the new girl.

Meanwhile a cast of mostly newcomers makes up the rest of this motley crew; a bunch of brash and loud but well-meaning youngsters, crisscrossing the American Midwest in a packed and grimy van. All bonding over explicit crunk hip-hop and friendly hazing, which might baffle audiences over 30 but it’s what the cool kids dig these days, despite it making ‘American Honey’ seem like a film about how insufferably loud young people are.

At first glance this might look like an example of a lost generation with no future, but in a time where the “American Dream” is a mere fantasy for most, these are kids making their own way in the world and showing a little enterprise while doing it too.

Young love, messy and confusing as it is, is a major part of “Star’s” journey of liberation and self-realisation, with director Arnold focusing her attention on emotion and honest human interaction rather than a clear narrative in this cinematic patchwork of raw experiences. The cinematography beautifully captures the towns and plains of the American Midwest and its humble people, disregarded by the rest of society and scarred by poverty, although the curious choice to forego widescreen for old-school academy ratio dampens some of the impact, no doubt to emphasise the many character close-ups in the film.

‘American Honey’ is no doubt a provocative film; highly sexually charged and packed with bad behaviour and strong language, which probably puts it in the pantheon of films like Larry Clark’s ‘Kids’ and ‘Bully’, films which shocked parents with the realisation of what their darling children are really up to. But 20 years on and all the debauchery on show has really lost its shock value, in an always connected generation with social media who revels in inappropriate behaviour, this is a rather tame effort if you’re expecting some real-world edge.

Nevertheless this unflinching coming-of-age story might but a little alarming for some, particularly with the heavy sexual element which is almost as troubling as the constant nonchalant use of the “n-word”, something which has become bafflingly common with white American youth and seems to have slipped by the PC police. Before you start ranting about lost youth though, remember that every older generation looks at the younger one with alarm, confusion and even contempt. But those youngsters grow up, and the cycle begins again, after all, how many anarchists and hippies from the rebellious 60s do you see still “fighting the good fight”?

With Arnold’s focus on a visual and emotional journey, for both the characters and the audience, story becomes the film’s major casualty, even though it deliberately reflects the seemingly aimless experience of youth. ‘American Honey’s’  narrative features little evidence of a plot, and just like the movie’s road trip, it starts to feel like a journey to nowhere well before its near three hour runtime is up.

But despite an underdeveloped narrative and its slightly tedious rambling nature, ‘American Honey’ manages to deliver a frank and often troubling yet hopeful look at the downtrodden modern youth in an easily overlooked part of America. One thing’s for sure; you’ll either take the film as an uncomfortable but hopeful look at today’s youth, or you’ll leave the cinema in fear for the future of the country, either way Arnold’s effort won’t quickly slip your mind.

The Bottom Line…

With this raw and unconventional American heartland coming-of-age road drama, Andrea Arnold has captured a side of contemporary Americana that many would rather be kept out of the spotlight; it may be excessively long and too loose with its narrative, but thanks to naturalistic performances from newcomers including its breakout star, plus solid turns from its two more accomplished leads, ‘American Honey’ has an abundance of energy and just enough substance to make a lasting impression.

‘American Honey’ is out in on the 14th of October in the UK, and out now in the US.

Similar films you may like (Home Video)

Kids (1995)

Provocative and sexually charged drama focusing on a group of New York teenagers as they prowl the streets of the “Big Apple”, living it large and out of control in a controversial 90s indie flick which defined a lost generation, and sent a chill up their parents’ spines.

Directed by Larry Clark and starring Leo Fitzpatrick, Chloë Sevigny and Justin Pierce among others.

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