Full details
Irish American documentary producer David McCourt recently sat down for a fireside chat with “Ocean’s Twelve” and The Bourne Ultimatum director George Nolfi at SXSW on Friday, where they discussed McCourt’s upcoming PBS documentary Amerigo: The Search for the American Dream.
As shown in a trailer that Variety exclusively unveiled, the film features interviews with people across the United States discussing the concept of the American Dream, focusing especially on their views about work, opportunity, technology, and community.
What We Know
During the panel, McCourt asked the audience to raise their hands if they believed the American Dream was alive and well.
Key Moments
- About half of the audience raised their hands when asked who felt unsure or worried about the American Dream.
- When asked if anyone thought the American Dream was completely dead, no one raised their hands.
“I am looking to hear what the American public has to say,” McCourt stated.
Why This Name Remains Important
In the film, McCourt described the story as often optimistic but “an optimistic story hanging on by a thread,” as he and Nolfi discussed the challenges faced by people from diverse socioeconomic and educational backgrounds in securing job stability and homeownership.
Getting personal, McCourt shared, “My grandfather came to this country at 16 years old, got a job as a janitor, bought a home, and died debt-free.”
Summary
He posed the question: Is that still possible? For a schoolteacher, a police officer, a fireman, a nurse — is it still possible? And if not, is this still the country we want to live in?
In the trailer for Amerigo, several people mention aspiring to “white picket fences” but express doubt that they will ever be able to buy a home.
One woman stated, “If you’re growing into being a titan of industry, and more and more people are suffering, you’re not growing.”
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Source
This news has been re-edited based on a report published by variety.com, maintaining the core facts presented in the original source.
