It only takes a few minutes on social media to be reminded that America has become a divided country. While it's easy to lay blame on our current political situation, James Kicklighter's curious and wise feature doc The American Question knows that the answer lies much deeper and steers this Gravitas Ventures release into deeper waters. 

The American Question explores the historical and contemporary factors that have led to an erosion of trust toward our neighbors, communities, media, institutions, and government. From historical empires to pivotal moments in contemporary American history, Kicklighter's eight-year mission to bring this film to life paints a compelling, impossible to ignore picture of the roots of where we are now as a nation. 

The film is being released on Tuesday, October 29th, on all major on-demand streaming platforms including Apple TV, Amazon's Prime Video, YouTube TV, and multiple cable on-demand platforms. 

The American Question is more than simply a film. It's a mission of sorts, an effort to dive into our shared histories that should have united us in an effort to bring to life stories that can help connect us once again. Focusing his lens on stories from diverse Americans in swing state communities within Pennsylvania and Michigan along with astute, engaging analysis from some of the nation's top political scienitists and analysts, the film looks at key elements of our cultural shifts. 

For Kicklighter, who grew up in one of America's poorest regions, the film's a personal one as is his desire to put on display our common ground. He spends time with familiar names like Colin Woodard (American Nations), Amy Chua, (Day of Empire), Yuval Levin (The Fractured Republic), Tania Israel (Beyond Your Bubble), and the film's narrator/co-producer Guy Tal Seemann. Emmy® Award nominee Jonathan Pope contributes lensing to the film. Editors include Emmy® Award winners Mohamed El Masterly and Carlos Puga along with J.D. Sievertson, ACE, and Kicklighter himself. The original score by Nicolas Repetto (The Sound of Identity, A Run For More) lends the film an appropriate gravitas while Filmograph's original animation is another prime asset. 

I never know quite what to expect when a Kicklighter film crosses my desk. There's no denying this is a deep, personal, and ambitious effort from Kicklighter and one that should elicit conversation after conversation after its watched. The stories here are compelling and Kicklighter weaves a cinematic tapestry that is both well-informed and emotionally resonant. America would do well to watch The American Question before heading to the polls. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic