L'Américain | Short Film

A chance encounter unexpectedly leads to an unlikely friendship when a young, reserved Parisian takes in a mysterious American backpacker for a few days.
Written & Directed by Jim Le
Starring Jamie Anderson & Romain Châteaugiron
© 2012 Tout Seuls Production
* Palm Springs International ShortFest 2013 *
* Festival du Film Court "Côté Court" 2013 *
* Philadelphia QFest 2013 *
Broadcasted on ShortsTV and ShortsHD.
l-americain.tumblr.com

[@garyhicks2011]

Beautiful! So subtle. Both actors are wonderful in their individual portrayals. The black and white is stunning. Thank you for sharing this. I wish it could have gone on.

[@derfogelfanger3103]

Well, I foolishly rewatched this video and my opinion has not changed. Watch his 6 minute “Park Bench” and going to piss is more cathartic than either of these !

[@mcmanpa]

Jim Le’s short film “L’Americain” is a wonderfully restrained and concise treatment of a modern morality tale:
an act of kindness at the start leads eventually by degrees to an act of conscience at the end. The telling relies as much on Isarr Ericsson’s close-up camerawork as it does on Jim Le’s spare script; its minimalism ably supported by its lead actors performance. But, ultimately, it is a reflection of the director’s talent that the intersection of one man’s loneliness and another man’s surliness creates an ambiguous tension which, in the end, resolves itself as more Dostoyevsky than eroticism.

[@allenelliott2600]

Ya think?

[@sallyhu5028]

@@allenelliott2600 No need for the disrespect and belittling. Contempt in just 2 words.
The commenter's writing and insight are far more intelligent than your response. It is true that people sometimes denigrate what they themselves cannot do.

[@derfogelfanger3103]

Where in the world are you getting Dostoyevsky?????? Please Please please explain!!!!!!!! He is my favorite author and I would love to know what you have been smoking to come up with such a ridiculous analogy? I thought the story made no sense .
I thought the French boys purchasing the “How to speak English “ was a desperate attempt to connect with him . That the American boy went into the bedroom and sat on the bed and showed concern for his abandonment by his father was going to lead to sexual intimacy, but leaving for good and leaving your wallet in a foreign country makes no sense unless he was going out for a walk and left it as a sign of trust ! I will have to watch it again because I felt it was annoyingly pointless.

[@user-sh7nf2hg3o]

​@@derfogelfanger3103
I wanna think he will
back for his wallet AND...love Is in the air...

[@davidholiday4494]

Hi Jim I enjoyed your film very much. The monochrome really added to the atmosphere and the subject content of the film.
It is really an excellent piece. I could really feel the emotional content too - the questioning, the longing, the existential feelings of living etc. Thank you very much for posting. I have just noticed another posting by you and will watch that too. DH

[@williamdougherty7369]

David Holiday t

[@syllahk]

Un magnifique court métrage. Bien joué, bellement filmé., atmosphérique avec un excellent scénario. J'espère que vous aurez l'occasion d'en faire un autre ou meme un long métrage!

[@Moosedog9]

que cortometraje más genial ❤️👊🏻📽

[@juliancoulden1753]

Incredibly sad and full of pathos. But beautifully made. And the black and white worked so well. Will came across as ungracious and ungrateful for the hospitality and care he received, almost boorish. But remained a charismatic character nevertheless

[@sourcherry23]

Lovely short and the use of black and white to establish an overall mood.

[@raynebo1763]

nice visual effect, handsome actors, beautiful apartment, vague story.

[@sanciac8842]

classy touch of the director, b/W, intriguing atmosphere, very nice!

[@johnjohnson4702]

A bit sad, but very stylish.

[@axelboot]

Ce film était très bien fait, le déroulement de l'histoire était prévu d'après moi, mais cette une réussite à cause des acteurs et la direction. Bravo !

[@stupidboy385]

It could be a longer bromance. ..too bad .

[@LMays-cu2hp]

The two guys are handsome. The emotion of friendship was there between them. So, he left his wallet there at the apartment. Paris is always nice to walk there to school or to work. This was nice...Thank you...

[@dafttool]

The American mugged the Frenchman, taking his wallet. But he had second thoughts about what he had done, trying to make up for it. When feelings got too close for comfort, the American left the Frenchman’s wallet & took off.

[@terrencepeterritchie3632]

Lovely. Well done. On dit Bien faite?

[@ParvaizRaja]

Jim Le, this is awesome. It's been 5 years. I hope you're still alive.

[@aliilkerunlu1340]

Brilliantly done.

[@allenelliott2600]

Was this film made to satisfy yourself as a director? I understand and appreciate the good work atmosphere etc., but, something was missing and I don't know what it was. Felt no blood running thru, rather cold.

[@founche]

Très belle histoire et bien dirigée.

[@billyves1]

Très sobre, pudique, très joli ;-)

[@thurberdrawing]

Perfect.

[@simonleaf2765]

Stub the ciggies out and have a kiss!

[@nickgardner2010]

A beautiful simple story. As alex ciak has said, "classy".

[@philcoppa]

the Frenchman was certainly likeable, the American not.

[@thomaslucia3059]

What is this? A film about smoking?

[@enasfarook9483]

I didn't get it.. why the amarican man suddrnly left??

[@mcmanpa]

jojo prince+ The wallet is the final clue.

[@johnblakeH]

The American, Will, was actually the one who robbed and injured Etienne. He evidently regretted injuring Etienne, and went to E's home to take care of the wound. Once he realizes Etienne is beginning to care for him, he attempts to leave. At this point, I think Will is also beginning to care for Etienne. But once Etienne asks him "do you know what (a good man) is?", Will's conscience makes him return the stolen wallet and leave, rather than face Etienne.

[@paulomedeiros9210]

@@johnblakeH I hadn't liked the film but after reading your explanation I saw it again and I could see its beauty. It's a small masterpiece.Thank you pal.

[@frightdavid1863]

I missed it too, damn my poor short term memory.

[@davidcates1368]

So unsatisfying

[@tommyflorida9204]

So much smoking!? I could never be near a smoker like that. Sorry.

[@mohmodmohmod9905]

Nice movie

[@vino140]

WTF ?

[@warrenabeshouse1230]

Really didn't add up to much.

[@goebels99]

Indulgent twaddle.

[@jamesarcher5060]

Laughing my ass off...I've been to France. No French are that nice. This film is not realistic, hahaha!