The Illinois Parables

Nov 16 2016 N/A 1h 0m
Documentary, History

From dreamy aerial opening shots, we are sent on an expedition through the storied land of our fifth most populous state, Illinois, often called a miniature version of America. Deborah Stratman’s experimental documentary explores how physical landscapes and human politics can each re-interpret historical events. Eleven parables relay histories of settlement, removal, technological breakthrough, violence, messianism, and resistance. Who gets to write history—physical monuments, official news accounts, or personal spoken-word memories?

Plot

An experimental documentary comprised of regional vignettes about faith, force, technology and exodus. Eleven parables relay histories of settlement, removal, technological breakthrough, violence, messianism and resistance, all occurring somewhere in the state of Illinois. But the state is a structural ruse, and its histories are allegories that ask what belief might teach us about nationhood. In our desire to understand the inscrutable, whom do we end up blaming or endorsing?

Written by

Deborah Stratman

Directed by

Deborah Stratman

Cast

Raven Wolf C. Felton Jennings II, Joshua Frieman, Anna Toborg

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

Pythagoras Film

Languages

English

Awards

1 win & 2 nominations

Scores
# of Votes
95
Average Rating
7.3 out of 10
Metascore
73
Popularity
NA