You know what they say: Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.
On the other hand, most of us are saddled with the sort of responsibilities and obligations – bills to pay, children to raise, families to foster – that we never even come close to that sort of freedom. If that’s even the proper way in which to think about freedom at all.
So, we watch films like this and imagine that, had things been different, that could have been me. Well, if that’s the way your head is actually wired.
In other words, young, dumb and full of cum.
But free.
Imagine then a clique of renegade misfits out on the open road going door to door selling magazine subscriptions. No, really. That’s what they do. But these “kids” are about as far removed from the American Dream as you can get. Yet somehow through their interactions with the rest of us we get to explore the extent to which that dream has long since transfigured into something entirely different. Like just barely hanging on from week to week or day to day; in a dreary and drab existence.
And, personalities and partying aside, it is all about the money. It’s all about the hustle. Somebody set it all up so that [in the end] they get most of the money; and the kids are just so many pawns in their game. But, if that’s all it is, the least you can do is to make the most of it.
And then we [the spectators] get to decide if it is all their own fault or if maybe [just maybe] “society” is also to blame.
Of course you then begin to wonder: Just how many kids are there like this out there?
Watch the film and try to imagine the reaction of folks like, say, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
IMDb
[b]Director Andrea Arnold wanted to work with unknown actors. She would often approach teenagers on the street whom she thought would be good for the movie, and hold impromptu auditions in parking lots.
Filmed in chronological order. Much of the dialogue was improvised.
Director Andrea Arnold split the scripts into parts and gave each actor their daily script on the day of filming. Keeping their scripts a mystery was done to prevent them from planning too much and overacting.
When Sasha Lane was approached on the beach in Panama City, her friend with her thought they were being scouted for porn, and walked away. Then realizing that was not the intent; she ended up cast as the lead.
Partly inspired by a 2007 New York Times article about the on-the-road existence of the “mag crew” kids. [/b]
at wiki: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Honey_(film
trailer: youtu.be/y1SpWZm1PLc
AMERICAN HONEY [2016]
[b]Star [dumpster diving for food with two of her Mom’s young children]: Are you Spider-Man?
Rubin: Yeah. I’m Spider-Man of the dumpster.
…
Jake: We go door-to-door. We sell magazines door-to-door, being friendly. You know, you seem friendly. You make $300 a day if you’re good. If you’re smart. You seem pretty smart, so figured I’d ask. Hmm? Come with us.
Star: You can’t just give me a job like that.
Jake: Yes, I fucking can. I’m a business manager…Come with us. We do more than work, you know. We explore, like, America. We party. A whole bunch of shit. It’s cool.
…
Star: I got a job. It’s in Kansas.
Mom: Did you come all the way here to tell me that? What kind of fucking job you got in Kansas?
Star: Nathan can’t have them, you know that.
Mom: I can’t have them.
Kelsey: Is that the surprise?
Star: I can’t take you to Kansas. I’m sorry.
Boyfriend: Hey, what’s going on?
Mom: She wants us to have the kids because she’s got a fucking job in Kansas.
Star: They are yours.
…
Krystal: Where’s that accent from?
Star: Texas.
Krystal: So you’re a southern girl. A real American honey like me. You know that song?
Star: No.
Krystal: Got anybody who’s gonna miss you?
Star: Not really.
Krystal: OK good. You’re hired.
…
Corey: Hey, what’s up? Are you new?
Star: Yeah.
Corey [pulling his dick out]: Yeah? You should let me be the first one to fuck you.
…
Star: What do we sell again?
Girl: Magazines.
Star: People actually buy those anymore?
Girl: Fuck, no.
…
Pagan: So, I have this obsession with Darth Vader. To me, he’s just like the epitome of just darkness and suffering. Um, and misunderstanding. Um, I feel like he was just a broken heart that lost any hope for love and life.
…
Star: Is this of you selling?
Girl: Yeah, we’re at a Walmart selling some shit.
Star: So this is what I have to do?
Girl: Yeah, sell magazines. You just gotta come up with your own spiels and shit, like I use the whole, “Oh, my dad was killed in Afghanistan” shit.
Star: Shit, was he?
Girl: No, but, shit, people love that patriotic shit.
…
Jake: Prove to me your name is Star, and I’ll give you a present.
Star: It was my mom’s idea. She said we’re all made from stars. From Death Stars.
…
Krystal: What’s rule one?
Star: Don’t be late for anything.
Krystal: Bitch, you don’t make money, I don’t make money. You get it? I’m gonna let it slide this time because it’s your first day. You keep 20 percent of what you make, 25 if it’s cash. Always try and get cash.
Star: Okay.
Krystal: The rest is management fees, goes to motels, gas. That’s basically it. Jake’ll train you.
…
Kyrstal [to the crew]: Where y’all headed today is real wealthy territory. I ain’t tried this kind of territory before, but these people are loaded and it shouldn’t be hard. So what are there?
All: No excuses!
Krystal: And with Loser Night coming up in a few days, some of y’all need to step the fuck up.
…
Star [to the crew in the van]: What’s Loser Night?
Boy: That’s a fun motherfucking night right there. Yeah, kinda, sort of. It’s a party practically. It’s where the two losers of the week…Whoever makes the least amount…Least amount of money…has to fight each other. It’s a game, but technically it’s not a game.
…
Pagan: You know what Darth Vader looks like beneath that mask?
Star: No, what?
Pagan: He’s a skeleton. Just like the rest of us.
…
Jake: You read the handbook last night - about the five sales steps?
Star: Yeah.
Jake: That’s a bunch of shit, all that. You don’t gotta listen to that. See, 'cause in Jake’s book there’s one fucking step. Not five, just one. It just takes one step. Once you get this one fucking step down, you’re the chief of the tribe. And I’m gonna teach you that one step today. You hear what I’m saying? Basically, as soon as they open that door and look at you, that’s the critical moment, that’s the make-or-break moment. 'Cause in that second you gotta work them, you gotta read them, you gotta be able to scan them and figure them out, figure what kind of person that person wants in their life. Then you gotta be that person. You know? So, like, a couple of the other agents are really rigid about the five sales steps and all this shit. So they’ll pick a spiel that’s, like, some sad shit, like… “Mama’s got cancer” or, “My fucking foot is falling off.” “I’m trying to get my life back together.” You know, “I got a little lost there in my teens, and now I’m really working and now I’m really working on myself, man,” and, “Oh, you know, my dad, he died in Iraq.” Any sad spiel, and they’ll just say it over and over and over again until it’s meaningless.
[Jake points to a house]
Jake: This person? This person doesn’t give a fuck about magazines, right? They want something from me, so if I’m a G, I’m gonna figure out what that something is and I’m gonna work that.
…
Star [after Jake gives her a ring]: Did you steal it?
Jake: They have everything, you know, including insurance, so it’s fine.
Star: What if it’s her wedding ring?
Jake: Who gives a shit? What, are you fucking religious or something?
Star: No. God can go fuck himself. God’s a cunt.
…
Krystal: So, tell me, what was it that you don’t agree with that Jake does?
Star: The lying.
Krystal: He ain’t lying. He’s selling. That’s his job. I don’t get what you want. You wanna make money or you don’t?
Star: I wanna make money.
Jake: She just needs more time. I’m good with the wild ones, you know?
Star: I’m not a fucking cow.
Ktrsyal: It costs me when you don’t earn. Do you get that? This shit, the motel, the gas, everything, that costs me. And I can’t run my business like that. So you show me you can do it, or I’ll leave you on the side of the road. Clear?
Star: Crystal.
Krystal: Is that a joke?
Star: No.
…
Krystal: I’m watching you, country girl, and you’re starting to get on my nerves. So your training’s done now. You fuck up this week, I’m gonna leave you in the plains with the mountain lions. You think that’s a joke? Jake, tell her.
Jake: It happens. In Nevada, left a girl in the desert with nothing. It just happened before you came. East Texas, gas station. No food, no water, no money, no shoes, no shit.
Krystal: So don’t fuck me off.
…
Star: Hey, can I ask you something?
Trucker: You kids selling something?
Star: Yeah, magazines.
Trucker: I don’t do magazines. Sorry.
Star: Well, you don’t have to read 'em. You can use 'em to wipe your ass.
…
Star [after they have sex]: Do you have any dreams?
Jake: Dreams? Like future dreams?
Star: Yeah.
Jake: Nobody’s ever asked me that.
…
Krystal: Okay, so this town has got people from all over the country and it’s filled with fucking oil. So what does that mean?
All: Money!!
Krystal: It means these people are making a shit load of money. And how does that make people feel when - they make that kind of cash?
All: Amazing!
Krystal: No, it makes them feel like shit. It makes them feel guilty. So I want y’all to dress like dirty white trash, and then they’ll pity you.
…
Star: This is a nice truck.
[Oil field worker chuckles]:
Star: What’s funny?
Oil Field worker: You’re sitting there talking about my truck while you’re stroking my cock.
Star: Well, it’s a nice truck…Am I doing this right?
Oil field worker" Can I ask you to do me a favor? Since I am paying for this.
Star: Okay.
Oil field worker: Could you be quiet?
Star: Okay, I’ll shut up.
…
Krystal: You think you’re special. You know, I pay Jake girl-money. A hundred dollars every time he finds a girl. Where you think Drema came from? And he fucks all of them, too. Y’all don’t mean nothing to him. I’ve been trying to think if I should keep you or not. Did you make any money in Williston?
Star: Yeah, I did, but I ain’t got the slips for you.
Krystal: That’s cool. Just give me the money and give me the slips later. Did you think that was Jake? That’s Bill. Bill, that’s Star.
Bill: Hey, Star.
Krystal [pointing across the room]: And that’s Frank. Jake’s gone. I told him he can’t come back again.[/b]