Mr. Freedom

Banned by the French government, recut by the producer, and misunderstood by the critics upon its release, Mr. Freedom has renewed cultural resonance in post–9/11 America. A raucous, over-the-top satire of Yankee imperialism and self-righteousness, the film follows a ruggedly handsome superhero—an amalgam of James Bond, Buck Rogers, John Wayne, and George W. Bush—who is sent abroad to save France from the red menace. Once revered by critic Jonathan Rosenbaum as “the most anti-American movie ever made” that only an American could make, its dazzling, dizzying visuals and comic style were truly ahead of its time. 1969, 35mm, in English and French with English subtitles. 100 minutes.

Click here to see a clip from Mr. Freedom