In Potato Dreams of America, writer-director, Wes Hurley, reimagines the true story of his childhood in Russia and adolescence in Seattle, incorporating satire and stylistic elements.
The film begins with young Potato (Hersh Powers) and his mother, Lena (Sera Barbieri) in the town of Vladivostok amidst the fall of the U.S.S.R. The version of Russia depicted in Potato Dreams of America is like a dream, with handcrafted sets that are tied together with bright colors and dramatic lighting. We see the world through the eyes of young Potato, whose love of American movies enhances the world around him. In his mind, windows are portals to the fantastical, and Potato’s imaginary friend—a gentle and flamboyant Jesus Christ (Jonathan Bennett)—sits on the couch and watches TV.
The people in Vladivostok handle regular blackouts, propaganda, and violence with satirical humor, speaking English with no trace of a Russian accent. Although humor helps them cope, Potato and Lena are struggling to survive in Russia. Potato is discovering his sexuality and is terrorized by his homophobic peers at school. As a doctor at a prison, Lena is regularly threatened by her boss and often not paid. Rampant anti-Semitism and homophobia, as well as the terror of Potato eventually entering the Russian military, hangs over both of them. When Lena seizes the opportunity to marry an American man as a mail-order bride, the pair make their escape to the United States.
As the family moves to Seattle, the film dramatically changes. The sets are replaced by on-location scenes with more naturalistic lighting, and the score makes a shift as well. Both Potato and Lena are now played by different actors (Tyler Bocock and Marya Sea Kaminski). They are both older and depicted with Russian accents, as the characters take on the new role of immigrants in a foreign country. The rose-colored glasses of childhood are gone as Potato and his mother experience the complexities surrounding the American dream for themselves, amid a new set of challenges presented by Lena’s new husband (Dan Lauria).
Because the two halves of the film are so distinct, viewers may have a hard time adjusting to the second half, which lacks the whimsy of the first portion. However, the American half of the film maintains intrigue and is invigorated by stellar performances, particularly from Lauria.
The deeper exploration of topics like coming out and immigration makes the film more well-rounded. Hurley’s reverence for the medium of cinema is clear throughout the film, with clear homages to the work of auteurs like Pedro Almodóvar. Potato Dreams of America is a surprising and touching film that would be a crowd-pleaser for an array of library programming events.
What type of library programming this title be used for?
Potato Dreams of America would be a valuable resource for library programming events discussing immigration and LGBTQ studies.
What kind of film collection would this title be suitable for?
Potato Dreams of America can diversify film collections that explore topics like immigrant stories, LGBTQ themes, and mother-son relationships.
What subjects or college majors would benefit from the content covered in this film?
This film would be a valuable and timely resource for students studying Russian Culture or Gender and Sexuality studies.