At first glance, this is an ordinary, unremarkable program that tells about America and the lives of Americans. But when you start watching it, you immediately start to get a kind of childhood curiosity and thirst for adventure.
Each series presents a separate history of a city with its own history, traditions and everyday life. In addition, some series in an easy form raise not simple topics and questions about which you accidentally begin to think. Parallel to all this beautiful voiceover Vladimir Pozner tells interesting facts and various stories of the city, while we observe the corresponding video.
One of the reasons this show is very interesting and never boring is what some of the other shows are. Vladimir Pozner and Ivan Urgant work well together and complement each other. Urgant is a young, cheerful, cheerful guy who is kindly naive and perfectly dilutes the wise, authoritative and well-read Posner.
Also, this transfer to some extent set the trend for tourism. I am sure that this work has added to the interest of people to travel and explore new countries. New programs began to appear, which told about tourism in various countries, looking back on this program and bringing something new.
Perhaps years later, some aspects of this project are not so relevant, but it is still interesting to listen and most things will remain relevant for a long time.
8 out of 10
12 years have passed since the release of the documentary series “One-storey America” by Vladimir Pozner. However, the reasoning on the topic: “What is the American Dream?” remains relevant.
As you can guess, I highly recommend this project to view.
Why?
1) The best way to tell a story is by car. As Ilf and Petrov noted in the work of the same name, America lies on a large highway. What is worth only the legendary ROUTE 66, which is now actually a monument. I immediately remembered the cartoon Cars (sorry to me only 18 years), in which the action takes place in one of the roadside towns Radiator Springs.
2) Leading - Vladimir Pozner, Ivan Urgant, Brian Cann. This combination looks very organic. All the semantic load takes on Posner, setting the tone of reasoning. But this action is diluted by a resident of the United States of Cannes, who looks at each plot through his palette. Even so, he admits that he opens his home from the other side. Well, Urgant is a representative of the conditional people, who, besides joking, asks the right questions for the better assimilation of the material by the audience.
(3) Plots
Visits to a number of cities affect guests and places that reflect the essence of the country. If you think that in 16 episodes you will not hear stories about the civil war, the genocide of the indigenous people, you are deeply mistaken. Everything from getting married in a Macduck window in Las Vegas to interviewing a convicted man. And everyone will answer the question: “What is the American dream for you?”
And if you are interested in the answer to this question, then this film is for you!
9 out of 10
P.S. The following film cycles are also quite interesting, but unlike the American analogue, they have only 10 episodes, and look a little clipped.
Last year I finished reading all the works of Ilf and Petrov, the last of which was “One-storey America”. The original made a strong impression on me, perhaps this is what I consider the main work of cult Soviet writers. After all, the adventures of Ostap Bender are satire, and their journey through pre-war America is a unique and, practically, invaluable cultural and historical work. It is also beautiful because the authors have tried to remain impartial whenever possible.
Vladimir Pozner and Ivan Urgant were able to do the same, and there is no typical propaganda or excessive criticism in their documentary series. Instead, there is a genuine desire to show America as Americans see and feel it. In the film, a huge number of interviews with a variety of people: from politicians and businessmen to police officers and even one suicide prisoner. They are all interesting in their own way, but, as for me, interviews with ordinary Americans are much more valuable, especially I remember roofers in a small provincial town.
Due to the constant comparison with the work of Ilf and Petrov, including photo and even video chronicles of those years, one can trace the development of the United States over a century. Now the cycle, in part, has lost its relevance, because over the past decade, America has managed to change significantly, but, on the other hand, it will always be relevant. Changes in the United States are usually gradual, and people remember and respect their past. The legendary Brighton Beach may disappear, but the Russians in New York will stay. New Orleans is recovering, but will its residents forget Hurricane Katrina? I doubt it.
In general, I believe that both "One-storey Americas" are mandatory to familiarize. It would be good to include them in the school curriculum, at least as homework for the summer – these are really important cultural phenomena that positively expand horizons. And it is better to get acquainted with them exactly as I did, that is, consistently, but without significant time interruptions.
9 out of 10
The P.S. cycle was continued in Europe, but I do not see the point of writing a separate review of each new country, but I will look over time and plan everything.
If you haven’t seen this documentary yet, I suggest you watch it. Posner took the idea of traveling from the book of famous satirists Ilf and Petrov. They have a book about their own journey of the same name. I also recommend reading this book.
This documentary was the first of five. A very clear narrative, step by step, reveals the American way of life, mentality, their values. There is so much to be learned for yourself. I learned a lot about the Americans themselves.
Posner is both the main author and the main narrator. Urgant was invited only to reach a youth audience. Ivan says little there, makes no discoveries, unless for himself. He was criticized for his jokes, but I don’t share that opinion. I can’t say that he annoyed me in the frame, does not interfere. On the contrary, it dilutes Posner's story a little, because otherwise it would be very dry, uninteresting to watch. So, what he was invited for, that's why he was useful.
I recommend the project to anyone who wants to know the truth about America in 2008: both those who love this country and admire it, and those who treat it negatively.
The highlight of the film is that Pozdner and Urgant travel along the route of compatriots of the 30s Ilf and Petrov and compare the changes that have occurred.
The film touches on almost all spheres of American society, reveals to the viewer all the positive and negative aspects. The authors talk about everything, as it seems to me, not biased, trying to dispel all erroneous stereotypes and confirm what is really true. All admirations and disappointments are sincere and aimed at showing the true picture of this country, its people, its fabric. And that's great.
In addition to social and economic themes, the incredible nature of America due to the fact that they travel in cars is shown, the spectacle is amazing even on video, I imagine how cool it is in person.
The result is a feeling that America is an ordinary country for ordinary people. Something is done at a better level than anywhere else. And just as in many countries, politics and the lives of ordinary people almost do not overlap, the media does its job and does not always reflect the true essence of things and the point of view of the population.
The world through the eyes of Posner and Urgant: United States of America
In 1935-36 famous Soviet writers Ilya Ilf and Eugene Petrov on behalf of the newspaper "Pravda" made a trip to the United States of America. Both correspondents knew neither the country they were going to nor the English language. Arriving in New York, they found an American couple who agreed to act as interpreters. As a result, having visited 25 states, hundreds of cities and settlements, meeting a huge number of Americans, their impressions of the “Coca-Cola country” they outlined in the book “One-storey America”. It should be noted that this book immediately began to enjoy great popularity in the Soviet Union. For the first time, the citizens of the Land of Soviets, with the filing of Ilf and Petrov, were able to “discover” America without the possibility of visiting it.
In 2008 The first channel began showing the documentary project "One-storey America", which is a kind of analogue of the famous book by Ilf and Petrov. The idea to repeat the path of satirists around the United States from New York to New York for many years sat in the head of Vladimir Posner, the author and one of the leading film. What has America become in the last 70 years since Soviet writers returned to Moscow? After all, so many global events have passed since then that it is no longer necessary to talk about the relevance of the book. Although, of course, some things about the mentality of Americans, still preserved. How is life today, and do Americans believe in the American dream? Vladimir Pozner, who lived in the United States for a long time, could answer these questions himself. But the format that was conceived was very well suited for the air. Especially when it comes to a project without political color. Therefore, the film crew went not to admire, or “pour the mud” America, and objectively look at things.
If Vladimir Pozner was, conditionally, Ilya Ilf, then "Petrov" became Ivan Urgant, the day before he moved to work for the First Channel. And this has also become one of the advantages of transmission. After all, at first glance, we see a conflict of generations (especially with regard to the different views on the music of both leading). But on the other hand, Urgant’s youth, charm, wit and humorous attitude did not let the viewer get bored (since, with all my respect to Pozner, his monotonous voice, at times, tireed).
The third permanent companion of Posner and Urgant was the American radio journalist and writer Brian Kahn. As spouses of Adamsa for Ilf and Petrov, Kahn became the native of the country in question, who took an active part in the trip. Although we have to pay tribute to our hosts, Posner and Urgant were doing well in English, so they both spoke to Brian without an interpreter. In addition, for Kahn, a resident of Montana, a trip to his native America turned out to be useful.
In 16 episodes, all three will travel the United States from East to West and back, traveling several thousand kilometers on the Ford. Topics will be covered: education, health, cinema, combating overweight, racism, service in the Armed Forces and the police. Thanks to the project, the viewer will have the opportunity to “dispel some myths” about the United States, and see all the charms and disadvantages of life in it.
Most of the time the series is interviewed. But in each series, people will have different professions and different social status. Only through the words of ordinary average Americans can one understand what is in their hearts, what is the course of thought. Among those with whom the presenter managed to communicate will be modern cowboys, Indians, migrants, criminals and police, farmers and citizens, pensioners and youth, representatives of non-traditional sexual orientation, Hollywood stars (World Sorvino, Michael York and Milla Jovovich). Plus, Pozner will be able to interview Phil Donahue (familiar to Soviet viewers on TV bridges of the USSR and the United States), Bill Gates and Ted Turner.
One-storey America is a very informative and interesting project. Personally, I discovered Posner and Urgant from a slightly different side, moving away from their usual role on TV. And America, represented in the series, turned out to be no idealized state. Just a country with its advantages and disadvantages. A country where the population leads a healthy lifestyle, but will not get rid of the problem of obesity. A country where there are reservations and cities with a certain contingent of residents, but at the same time hundreds of migrants come to the United States every year. So, sometimes, the opinion that was given in the book Ilf and Petrov: “This country is interesting to watch, but you do not want to live in it.” But with the filing of Posner and Urgant, I really “discovered” America (as once Soviet citizens thanks to the book of the same name by Ilya Ilf and Yevgeny Petrov).
10 out of 10
One of Walt Disney’s key rules for writing a good cartoon is:
“There is at least one stupid friend of the protagonist to laugh at.”
The same rules decided to adhere to the creators of the documentary series “One-storey America”, giving fellow travelers to the elderly, serious and highly educated Vladimir Pozner, who knows America back and forth, a young skomorokh Ivan Urgant, who not only has not been there, but also knows English quite fluently. A very cunning commercial ploy in order to expand the range of potential viewers from fans of the stem "Projectpariskhilton" to fans of the socio-political talk show "Times".
Although Urgant looks like a candid vestige in this documentary, in some places he brings a pleasant freshness to Posner’s serious rantings. It was not clear why Urgant had to constantly sycophage to “Vladimir Vladimirovich”, trying to show in a humorous tone how far he was from his mind and education and does not fit into his intellectual society.
In the rest, it is fair to note that the series is exceptionally good, interesting, leisurely and easy to rise. I was comfortable in his company. Everything is sharpened for a wide audience and all series are equally fascinating. I wish I could see it again.
To double your pleasure and be as much in the topic as possible, it is recommended to start viewing strictly after reading the original source of Ilf and Petrov, since the transfer is essentially devoted to their study and teeming with parallels. They go almost on the same route, go to the same cities, and Posner constantly quotes the book and compares "America" of the 30s with America of the zeros. Unlike such series as “America without makeup”, “One-story America” does not adhere to the polar attitude to expose America. As in the book, both strong and weak points are shown.
Perhaps the most surprising thing is that, unlike Russia, America hasn’t changed much after 80 years. Everything is subject to change, but it is surprisingly stable in many aspects and there is no big gulf between 30 and zero.
The authors of the documentary repeat the journey made by Ilf and Petrov in 1935-36-ies and described by them in the book “One-storey America”. How much has America changed since then? Have people, their interests, their lives changed? When I read the book, I often asked myself these questions.
I am glad that there were people who decided to answer them and showed us modern America.
From series to series, the presenters discover for us (and for themselves) a completely different America, different from those averaged ideas that have developed about it in our society.
First of all, America is diverse. This is manifested in nature: there are mountains and plains, steppes and canyons, forests and deserts, and in cities: it is impossible to confuse New York with San Francisco and Los Angeles with Las Vegas. And of course people! America is inhabited by people who speak different languages, profess different faiths, rich and poor, white and black, red and yellow.
Amazing country - America!
You may not know anything about it, or you may live there for many years — no matter what — I think you’re going to learn something unexpected from this movie.
10 out of 10
P.S.: With great interest, I also watched the Tour de France, a similar series of programs from the same authors about France. And now I’m looking forward to the release of the next work – “Their Italy”.