• Release year: 2024
• Director: Michael Premo.
• Producers: Rachel Falcone and Michael Premo.
• Story consultant: Lynn Nottage.
• Cinematography by: Michael Premo.
• Music by: Khari Mateen.

Shotgun Commentary: ever wondered if there is any sanity behind the apparent madness of the surreal moment in history? You are not alone, and no, there isn’t.

Review

Homegrown is a documentary that follows the life of three pro-MAGA men before, during and after the attack on the Capitol after the 2020 elections. The documentary merely shows what these groups and individuals think and how they reason their actions throughout the whole process. As well as adding some notes at the end explaining what happened to them as consequence for their actions. Credits that have become irrelevant now that they have received a full pardon from the current president.

The real problem

This documentary is quite unique in the sense that it follows what happens with little to no positioning on the matter at all. In fact, it is hard to determine what the aim of it is other than to shine a light to what went inside these people’s heads to violate their own democracy. The answer is unsurprising but very complex, bottom line is, they thought they were saving their country. It might seem counterintuitive to trample over your democracy in order to protect it, but that is what you get when your country has a 21% of illiterate adults and 54% of adults with a literacy below a 6th-grade level, that is, the literacy of an 11–12 years old.

When your educational system is designed to keep as many people as ignorant as possible, you can hardly be surprised when a herd of hooligans gets violent over conspiracy theories and misinformation. After all, did anyone bother to give them the tools to fact-check what they hear?

Sure, it is easy to say, “well, the internet has all the information you need, so it’s up to each of us to search”. That is completely true, but it is also wishful thinking. People don’t usually actively search for the facts behind each news they hear or see, they will most likely assume it as the truth if it comes from sources that they consider reliable. This source could be the least trusted news station or your weird neighbour, there are no filters, and people will always believe things that align with their prejudice over those that don’t.

Easily digestible

In that sense, this feature is very much like Mr. K (2024), also part of the GFF 2025 programme. Both pieces highlight how easy it is to believe a comfortable lie over an uncomfortable truth. Is it easier to blame immigrants for your lack of work, or to blame a system that is designed for you to fail and die as poor as you were born? Obviously, an immigrant seems like a much easier target than the government, so people will readily believe anyone who gives them that easier target on a platter.

Throughout the documentary, you hear tons of example of this exact same thing. From people hating Antifa without even knowing what the word “fascism” means, to people preaching about how the BLM movement is “actively building Satan’s kingdom”. The more you watch, the more you can’t help but to think about that random drunk guy that appears out of nowhere on a night out to ramble about god knows what at you. There are surprisingly very little differences between both figures, the main one being the subjects of the documentary don’t need alcohol to talk nonsense.

All in all, Homegrown is a great approach to a difficult subject. With barely any editing, it showcases the reality of what went on after the 2020 elections, letting its audience draw their own conclusions.

Advice to take from this movie:

• Why do you need a gunroom in your house, John Wick? Is your life THAT thrilling?
• Never make choices with 8 mimosas in your system.
• Trump IS a synonym for racism. And yes, you can be married to a black person and still be racist.

What’s your take? Have you watched Homegrown? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀