Birth of a New America: A strange trip through the archives

Is this for you?

If you have a weird fascination with 1930s newsreel aesthetics or if you're a total history nut, you might get a kick out of this. If you’re looking for an actual narrative or anything resembling a modern documentary, you will probably be bored to tears within five minutes. It’s a very specific vibe, and it definitely isn't for the average Friday night crowd. 🎥

Birth of a New America isn't really a 'movie' in the way we usually talk about them. It’s more of a collage. It feels like watching someone’s scrapbooks come to life, if those scrapbooks were obsessed with industrial progress and government initiatives.

The narration by Alois Havrilla is... something else. It’s got that classic, hyper-formal radio cadence that makes everything sound like the most important thing to ever happen. It’s almost hypnotic, but after a while, you start to wonder if the guy ever took a breath. Literally.

The transition between the war footage and the New Deal stuff is jarring. One minute you’re looking at grainy, chaotic battle scenes, and then suddenly, we're talking about infrastructure and economic growth. It’s a strange tonal shift that feels a bit like whiplash. 😵‍💫

It made me think of other old-school experiments in the industry. It’s not quite as chaotic as Life in Hollywood No. 1, which had its own weird energy, but it shares that same sense of being a 'product of its time' that you just don't see anymore.

Sometimes the footage just lingers. You’ll be staring at a bridge or a factory floor for way longer than you think you should be. It’s weirdly peaceful, in a dull sort of way.

• That one shot of the factory smoke—it lasts for an eternity.
• The score is remarkably persistent.
• Havrilla really loves the word 'progress.'

It’s not trying to be subtle. The movie is clearly trying to sell you on a version of the country that feels shiny and new. It’s a bit like watching a very long, very earnest advertisement. You can almost feel the movie trying to convince you that everything is headed in the right direction, even if the footage looks a little ragged around the edges.

I wouldn't say it's 'good' or 'bad' in the way I’d describe A Slave of Fashion or something with actual characters. It’s just an artifact. It exists. It’s fine to have on in the background if you like the crackle of old film stock and someone shouting history at you.

Don't look for a plot. You won't find one. Just enjoy the weird, rhythmic hum of a country trying to reinvent itself through a montage. It's an odd piece of history, if nothing else.