American Pastoral

Scottish actor Ewan McGregor (“Trainspotting”) made his directorial debut with the film adaptation of “American Pastoral,” for which the exceptional American writer Philip Roth was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. From the perspective of Nathan Zuckerman (David Strathairn), Roth's literary alter ego, the story is told of a family ruined by the terrorist activities of their daughter. At first, the life of Seymour “the Swede” Levov (Ewan McGregor) in the USA of the 1950s seems to be going smoothly: During his school days, the young man with Jewish roots is admired as a successful high school athlete. He graduates, marries beauty queen Dawn (Jennifer Connelly), and successfully takes over his father's business. However, this perfect life begins to falter when Seymour's daughter Merry (Dakota Fanning) becomes increasingly rebellious as a teenager and gets involved with politically motivated activists. It's about breaking away from the parent generation – and above all about protesting against American involvement in the Vietnam War... even with violence if necessary. “American Pastoral” depicts the disintegration of the American dream and the illusion of control when social upheavals and personal ideologies can destroy family ties in the blink of an eye. The desire for stability and the change brought about by external circumstances are revealed in all their incompatibility. The real tragedy, however, lies in self-deception and in the realization that every “idyll” is only a fragile construct. The costumes, production design, and cinematography by Martin Ruhe are captivating, as the fatal changes in the Levovs' lives are also reflected in the set design, lighting, and use of color. Moreover, Alexandre Desplat's music unfolds with tremendous force. Conclusion: Ewan McGregor has turned Philip Roth's novel into a suspenseful historical film of current relevance. Dakota Fanning's performance as the wayward daughter is particularly impressive." (Andreas Köhnemann, on: spielfilm.de)