Hidden among the mountains north of Beijing, far from the crowds, pollution, and bureaucracy of the capital city, a Wild West-themed gated community promises to deliver the American dream to its several thousand Chinese residents. Jackson Hole, China is one of the country's several replica cities.

Director Adam James Smith is granted access to this exclusive town and lives among the residents to document their lives in this unique town. One such citizen is Annie Liu. She hangs many of her hopes on the town in her attempts to achieve her idea of the American Dream only to find the American idyll harder to attain than what was promised to her in China's Wild West. After widespread criticism from the Chinese media and feeling pressure from new breeds of nationalism radiating out from both the Chinese and American governments, the community becomes split between those who cling to the American dream and those who seek to reclaim their Chinese national identity within this idyll.

Americaville is available via Kanopy, free with your library card.

2nd Floor Flix is Glen Park Branch's movie club for grownups. We watch a broad range of films, from classics to contemporaries, with a focus on exposing our audience to rising creatives, fan favorites and hopefully something new to you.

NR, 78 mins., 2020. In English and Chinese with closed captions (CC) in English.