Synopsis
The Illinois Parables is an impressionistic portrait of the state of Illinois, sometimes described as a miniature version of the United States, tracing its decidedly eclectic history from the 7th to the 20th century in 11 parables.
A word from Tënk
The landscapes of Illinois filmed by Deborah Stratman may appear innocent at first glance. But by juxtaposing them with human-made works—texts, murals, buildings, scientific documents—the filmmaker reveals the history that has shaped them. She seems to respond to the bias of school textbooks with an equally incomplete overview of several centuries, one that embraces its own perspective rather than giving the illusion of continuity. The displacement of Cherokee populations, the assassination of Fred Hampton, or the tornadoes of the 1920s become mere markers of a history that cannot be grasped on its own—and one we must therefore write, consciously.
Olivia Cooper-Hadjian
Member of the Cinéma du Réel Selection Committee,
Critic for Les Cahiers du Cinéma
