American Freedoms

People who live in the United States often see their efforts to enjoy particular freedoms and pursue opportunity as foundational to their identity as "Americans." Their hard work, aspirations, and pursuit of basic liberties, in this view, confirm their place in an enduring national tradition. Yet there has never been agreement in the U.S. about opportunity—about who should have access and how it is best guaranteed—or about the kinds of freedoms that demand protection. What, then, do people believe to be essential or defining "American freedoms"? And does it matter that there has never been agreement about the answer?

To explore this, I am filming conversations with people around the country about the idea and experience of freedom in the United States. Living here has enabled millions of people to secure tangible benefits and freedoms—political, economic, intellectual, and personal. It has also denied to millions of people basic freedoms and the opportunity to remain self-sufficient, independent, and safe. And so it is not surprising that people in the U.S. disagree about what the term "freedom" describes and that most view their convictions—about rights, privilege, opportunity, fairness—as reflecting the true, guiding principles in this tradition. But given these differences, why do people often talk about the defense of freedom in the U.S. as if it had a common purpose and as if people agreed about its history? And why does the impulse to invoke a unified national project and a shared mission remain so influential?

The story in American Freedoms will be told, literally, by the hundreds of individuals who agree to an interview. Their voices alone will narrate, without "experts" (or the film maker) commenting directly on the content. And with so many people featured, none will get extensive screen time. The film won't "profile" speakers, highlight particular views or life stories, or pass judgement on freedom's many meanings and histories. The result will be a patchwork of conversations in which people introduce their experiences, understandings, and convictions, some that will be familiar to viewers and others that will surprise or confuse. The project invites viewers to put competing ideas about American freedoms—freedoms imagined, aspired to, and realized—in conversation with their own.

To learn more about the project and the filmmaker or to inquire about participating, click the links above.