American Selfie: One Nation Shoots Itself
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Docu about a divided America has violence, cursing.
Add your rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
American Selfie: One Nation Shoots Itself
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
Written, directed, and produced by Alexandra Pelosi, AMERICAN SELFIE: ONE NATION SHOOTS ITSELF is a documentary that captures the political, economic, and social divide of America. From the release of the new iPhone in September 2019, to then-President Trump's controversial 2020 Independence Day celebration at Mount Rushmore, Pelosi spends a year traveling around the country to talk to people from both sides of the divide about what is happening in the United States. Her camera captures Black Lives Matter marches, panicked shoppers buying food when the pandemic begins to spread in the U.S., and individuals who have been left behind by a system that is, in theory, supposed to treat everyone equally. She also interviews people who are reacting and responding to the unprecedented events that are defining the end of the decade. Archive audio and video footage of Trump MAGA rallies, excerpts of speeches, and significant events recorded on people's cell phones round out the overall narrative.
Is It Any Good?
This thought-provoking, and disturbing, documentary serves as a snapshot, or "selfie," that captures the country in a moment of high turmoil. It showcases how strongly divided people are over issues ranging from immigration to gun control, as well as more recent efforts to get people to wear masks to curb the spread of COVID-19. It also reveals the inability of people on both sides to discuss these issues civilly. As the tensions grow higher across the country, so does the violence, and the narrative moves quickly from candid interviews and imagery of political activism to on-going scenes of angry clashes between protestors, images of police brutality, and the frustrated shouts of people left with few options as they lose jobs, homes, and hope.
Some may argue that Pelosi (daughter of Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi) approaches these issues with a liberal bias. Scenes showing Trump supporters chanting anti-immigrant rants and folks arguing against COVID-19 government restrictions are juxtaposed with scenes of people who are suffering first hand from the consequences of this rhetoric. But it does point to the ironies (like pro-environmentalists leaving litter behind after a climate change march) on the left side of the divide. Meanwhile, it's impossible to hide the disconnect between what the White House is communicating to the public and the realities Americans are capturing on their cell phones every day. American Selfie: One Nation Shoots Itself isn't an easy watch, but it offers a lot of insight into the state of the country leading up to the official start of the 2020 presidential campaign.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about some of the reasons the United States is so divided. What does American Selfie: One Nation Shoots Itself show us about the willingness of people on each side of the political, economic, and social spectrum to speak to each other about these divisions? What needs to happen in order to narrow the divide?
What role does media play in dividing a country? How can media help people from different walks of life and different points of view come together to talk about difficult issues, like race or the COVID-19 pandemic?
Have you engaged in civil discourse with individuals whose opinions differ from yours? If so, what did you learn? If not, can you strive to do so and have a respectful conversation that reflects both points of view?
TV Details
- Premiere date: October 23, 2020
- Cast: Alexandra Pelosi , Manila Luzon
- Network: Showtime
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: November 18, 2020
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate