Watch Mr. Freedom
- NR
- 1968
- 1 hr 35 min
-
6.4 (1,275)
Mr. Freedom is a 1968 French-American satirical film which is produced, written and directed by William Klein. The movie is a political satire set in America. It follows the adventures of an over-the-top and self-important superhero, Mr. Freedom (John Abbey), as he travels to France to intervene in the country's political affairs. Mr. Freedom is a symbol of America's arrogance and imperialism. He is a tall, blond, muscular man with a red, white, and blue outfit with an eagle mask. He has all the trappings of American patriotism, but his actions suggest something more nefarious. The character is a parody of American foreign policy during the Vietnam War. He's a caricature of a superhero who is arrogant, bumptious, and ignorant.
The film starts with an introduction of Mr. Freedom through a music video where he is singing about American values and superiority. He is then sent to France by his government to stop an uprising led by a group of Marxist revolutionaries. In Paris, he meets the beautiful and intelligent Moujik (Delphine Seyrig), who is a member of the revolutionaries. She tries to convince him that he is fighting on the side of oppression, but he remains stubborn and refuses to see the truth.
As things start to go wrong, Mr. Freedom becomes more and more violent and aggressive, using his brute strength against anyone who opposes him. He begins to engage in torture and exceeds his orders, revealing his true nature as an agent of violence on behalf of the American government. Soon, even the American Ambassador to France, Mr. Fiddlestick (Donald Pleasence), cannot stop Mr. Freedom's scheme to overthrow France and make it into another American state.
The film uses over-the-top humor to critique the imperialism and exceptionalism of America. Mr. Freedom is a caricature of nationalism and reflects the absurdity of American values. He is an exaggerated representation of what America thinks it is, revealing the power dynamics at play in the world. The film also critiques the counter-culture of the time, showing how even radical revolutionaries can be blinded by their own ideology.
The movie's style is very much like a countercultural piece from the late 60s. It's very colorful and has a lot of surrealistic imagery and political commentary. The film is extremely anti-war and anti-capitalist, and it's not afraid to use violence to get its point across. It's a cult classic that is still relevant today, particularly given the current state of politics globally.
Overall, Mr. Freedom is a humorous but powerful satire of American imperialism and nationalism. The film is a commentary on Western foreign policy during the Vietnam War era and offers a critique of American exceptionalism which still resonates today. The movie is a must-watch for anyone interested in political satire, anti-war messaging, and issues related to American foreign policy.