Being well aware that there is an under-representation of the comedy genre in this Nexus Film Section, I cannot let the opportunity pass by to bring the 2019 film Give Me Liberty from the Russian-born Kirill Mikhanovsky under your attention. The film is about Vic, a twenty-something driver of a transportation service van in Milwaukee. It is sad, warm, chaotic and hilarious at the same time, while never losing respect for the fundamental humanity of the colorful group of people it paints. It echoes something of the socialrealistic critique of Ken Loach’s film Sorry We Missed You, but it wants to tell another story about people who are easily overlooked. 

Vic lives with his grandfather who is slightly out-of-control and hardly can be left alone. His day starts with saving his grandfather from bigger trouble and from then on he is constantly behind schedule. Vic has a sharp eye for needs and a warm heart for his clients and this makes it impossible for him to adhere to a schedule. Each of his clients has special needs that need to be attended to. He cannot leave behind a group of older people from Russian background, including his grandfather, who have gathered in the apartment building on their way to a funeral and cannot get transportation. Another important client is a woman in a wheelchair whose arrival at her destination needs to be postponed all the time. Vic carries on as best as he can through traffic congestions, trying to meet the colliding interests of his passengers, trying to handle the distractions inside the van.

Vic is not made into the hero of the film. He himself belongs to this melting pot of different needy persons, together with Russian immigrants, people with disabilities, the black community in this segregated city of Milwaukee. It is a discussion of the American Dream – who is it for? Who is included? What does ‘Give me Liberty’ mean in the realities of the marginalized people, that we bump into during that day? Vic may have lost his job at the end of the day, but after all many may need people like Vic, with their empathy, care and sensitiveness, to get through the day.

Rinus, May 2020

*image & trailer posted for non commercial purposes under fair use 
of copyright material in recommendation of the film

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