Film

Le Filet Américain

1981 · 1h 27m · Documentary

The documentary's legacy lies in its unapologetic fusion of agitprop and satire, a signature style of De Hert’s Fugitive Cinema collective. By juxtaposing Mandel’s economic theories with absurd military parades, the film exposes the contradictions of a society preparing for war while its social fabric decays. De Hert employs rapid montage, pop music, and street-level interviews to strip away the facade of state authority.Decades later, Le Filet Américain remains a vital historical document. It captures a specific era of Belgian polarization, marked by economic crises and the rise of the gendarmerie. The metaphor of the meat grinder endures as a powerful critique of how institutional systems compromise individual dignity for corporate profit.

Ernest Mandel

Self

Jan Decleir

Robbe De Hert

Self

Paul Van Den Boeynants

• Robbe De HertDirector · Writer · Editor
• Chris VerbiestDirector · Editor
• Paul De VreeProducer
• Guido HenderickxEditor
• Denise VindevogelEditor

Release date

February 3, 1981

Status

Released

Original language

French

Runtime

1h 27m

Genres

Documentary