The Plot Against America (2020)

“Like it or not, Lindbergh is teaching us what it means to be Jews. We only think we’re Americans.” – Elizabeth ‘Bess’ Levin

Number of Times Seen – 1 (31 Aug 2020)

Brief Synopsis – In an alternative world, Charles Lindbergh defeats Franklin Roosevelt in the 1940 Presidential election which causes friction during the outbreak of World War II in Europe.

My Take on it – This is a mini series that I’ve bee interested in seeing ever since it aired back in the Spring and I’m so happy that I finally got the chance to see what it was all about.

This is quite a fascinating tale that is very deep and complex and works on numerous levels.

They are able to develop these characters really well and the fictional world that they populate seems plausible.

The plot is ale to show how Fascism could possibly take over the US back in the 40’s especially when people are more concerned about the threat of communism.

The story focuses on a middle class Jewish family in Newark, New Jersey as they are constantly affected by events that take place on a National level, a local level and on a personal level.

The Jews are affected by the new government in ways that they never expected and like with most conflicts, it even is able to pit neighbor against neighbor as each one claims to know what the best way of government is meant to be.

The do an amazing job trying to show how the US is a melting plot for all ethnicities but policies and fear are able to ignite much hated and anger.

The film unfolds in ways one could never expect and the 6 hour run time give ample time for things to feel so real based on how it all is developed.

There are some really tense scenes that are quite gripping to watch and that helps enhance things even more.

Bottom Line – Fascinating story that works on so many levels. The characters are all developed really well and it’s quite easy to believe that a world like this one could have theoretically happened. The story is able to show how Fascism could spread in the US at a time when people were more concerned with trying to stop the spread of Communism. The story is able to tell how the minority of Jews were affected by the new government and like with all political factions, it caused neighbor to fight against neighbor for what they believed was the truth. The film is able to show that despite America being a melting pot of many different ethnicities, policies and fear could help spark much more anger and hatred. The choice to focus on a small Jewish family in Newark works really well because they have to deal with National, local and personal issues as the story unfolds in ways one never might expect. Highly Recommended!

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – While this is a fictional tale, it does use accurate depictions of the time; for instance, Charles Lindbergh was, in actuality, very antisemitic. Lindbergh was leader of the America First movement, created in 1940 after Hitler had invaded Poland, and believed the US should take a neutral position in WWII. He was quoted in Readers Digest in 1939 as saying ” We can have peace and security only so long as we band together to preserve that most priceless possession, our inheritance of European blood, only so long as we guard ourselves against attack by foreign armies and dilution by foreign races.” He believed in eugenics, that Germany had a ‘Jewish’ problem, and was close friends with Henry Ford, another well-known antisemite. (From IMDB)

Rating – Oscar Worthy (9/10)

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