if this documentary have not be make by the famous french director and louis malle and i probably would have turn it off after the first 15 minute and a it be an incredibly dull look at a very ordinary midwestern american town in 1979. this be not exactly my idea of a fun topic and the film footage closely resemble a collection of home movie . consider i do not know any of these people and it be even less interesting . because it be a rather dull slice of life style documentary and i wonder while watch what be the message they be try to convey . perhaps it be that value aren not as conservative a you might think this be an underlying message through many of the vignette ( such a the republican whose son be a draft resister as well a the man and lady who think sex outside of marriage be just fine ) . or and perhaps the meaning be that there be a lot of bigotry underlie the nice home town a several ugly idea such a blame jew for financial conspiracy and anti black bigotry and homophobia all be briefly explore . the small town of 1979 be explore in great depth and an idyllic sort of world be portray and but when the film maker return six year later and the mood be depressed thanks to president reagan . this seem very disingenuous for several reason . first and the 1979 portion be almost 90 % of the film and the final 10 % only consist of a few interview of people that blame the president for just about everything but acne . what about the rest of the folk of this town . do they all see reagan a evil or that their life have become more negative . with only a few update and it seem suspicious . second and while it be true that the national debt double in the intervening year and so do the gross national product . and and while malle show 1979 a a very optimistic period and it be far from that and a the period from 1974 1980 feature many shortage ( gas and sugar and etc . ) and strike and high inflation and general malaise . while i be not a huge fan of reagan because government growth do not slow during his administration and the country and in general and be far more optimistic than it have be in the ford and carter year . while many in the medium demonize reagan ( a popular sport in the 80 ) and the economy improve significantly and the documentary seem very one side and agenda driven . have the documentary give a more thorough coverage of 1985 and hadn not seem too negative to be believe ( after all and everyone do not have their life get bad this defy common sense ) and then i might have think otherwise . overall and not the wonderful documentary some have proclaim it to be range from a dull film in 1979 to an extremely slanted look at 1985. by the way and be it just me and or do the film drop dead gorgeous seem to have be inspire and at least in part and by this film . both be set in similar community and but the latter film be a hilarious mockumentary without all the serious undertone .