...And the Pursuit of Happiness

Louis Malle became an American citizen before he made this film in the US. As an emigrant, he naturally finds it interesting to document the views of first generation emigrants and the views of older generation of emigrants on the newer generation. This film was shown as part of the Malle retrospective at the ongoing 11th International Film Festival of Kerala, India.

Malle needs to be complimented on truthful recordings even if the boom gets into the camera's vision at times. But his choice of individuals is suspect--Derek Walcott (an intellectual); a good, well-meaning US emigration official at the Mexico border (providing transparent propaganda footage); Latin American dictator General Somoza's kin; and a Cuban lady who teaches her pet dog English just as the hundreds of specialized schools in the US teach English to new emigrants earlier in the film. It makes you wonder if Malle has his tongue firmly in his cheek. If so, it is interesting. If not, the film is at best an average effort by a great filmmaker.