Ron Howard
Elegia Americana

Hillbilly Elegy

Hillbilly, in its most derogatory sense, can be roughly translated into Italian as "bifolco." However, turning the term in a more positive direction, it also refers to the resilience of those living on the fringes of globalization and the major American centers.

The protagonist of the film is indeed that deep America (often defined as trumpian, to be clear, but obviously Howard is far from making it a spot...), light-years away from the glitz of Silicon Valley and the great opportunities. Where emerging is a continuous obstacle course.

Despite the overly negative criticism it received in its homeland, I'll say right away that it is fundamentally a good film. But one in which the regrets remain, for that great elegy that, from the title on, it could have been on this other America, on these mountain people ("Because we are mountain people, and we honor our dead"), an epic that remains on the surface and in the background, where the passage of time and eras is barely hinted at by some television reference to the political events of the Clinton era. But also on the concept, only just touched, immediately hinted at and immediately abandoned, of sentimental homeland and human affinities, which can distinguish the place of birth from that of true origin and identification.

All in favor of a parable that is ultimately substantially sweetened and edifying about the American dream and family values. On the other hand, the story is still true, taken from the protagonist's autobiography, so the margin in this sense was relative. But undoubtedly emerging are Howard's usual limitations.

Howard remains always dignified and honest, but certainly is not Eastwood, and the film's strength lies in the dual performances of Glenn Close and Amy Adams, both memorable and perfect, deserving of every accolade.

An average and innocuous film, but still an enjoyable watch. At the closing credits, the captions and the inevitable shots and videos of the real protagonists, following in the footsteps of many other examples in American cinema, in the America that tells its own story. Sully, Boy Erased, I, Tonya, Richard Jewell... All films far superior to Hillbilly Elegy in any case. In particular, Tonya (which I already reviewed here, by the way), with the superb and unforgettable Margot Robbie, is the true recent film about the reality of the hillbillies. And I recommend it again.