Cinema Verite
March 13, 2013 5:33 AM   Subscribe

How Americans live today. A video report describing the living conditions of modern Americans.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates (37 comments total) 11 users marked this as a favorite
 
For those of you outside of the US that didn't know this, they are really nice tents.
posted by Nanukthedog at 5:43 AM on March 13, 2013 [8 favorites]


What is with the fascination with coffee made of snow? (And where did this video really come from? I'm skeptical.)
posted by scottatdrake at 5:44 AM on March 13, 2013


In Florida, where there is no snow, everyone is undercaffeinated and dehydrated.
posted by olinerd at 5:49 AM on March 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


2:06 "these two are sitting next to their friends in blue bodybags, drinking snow."

Deadpan without the humor.
posted by three blind mice at 5:55 AM on March 13, 2013


I'd love to watch this video, but I've finished my snow coffee and must now hunt birds for dinner.
posted by dortmunder at 5:57 AM on March 13, 2013 [4 favorites]


Some people complain about the guns.

In Florida, where there is no snow, everyone is undercaffeinated and dehydrated.

Yeah. We just complain about the lack of coffee here. We don't mind the guns so much.
posted by Splunge at 6:00 AM on March 13, 2013


"Local snow"? Yuppies to the end, aren't we?
posted by NoMich at 6:01 AM on March 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


"these two are sitting next to their friends in blue bodybags, drinking snow."

"They are friends in adversity" was a nice touch.
posted by zippy at 6:08 AM on March 13, 2013 [3 favorites]


The watermark says "v.ifeng.com". A Google translate of their About page:
Phoenix New Media, Inc. (NYSE: FENG) is a new media company, the world's leading cross-platform network integration of its comprehensive portal Phoenix (www.ifeng.com), phone Fenghuang (3g.ifeng.com) and Phoenix video ( three platform v.ifeng.com), adhering to the "Chinese feelings, global vision compatible open, the concept of progressive forces in the media, mainstream Chinese Internet, new wireless communication, television networks seamless high-quality media content Service.
So my question is, is the narrator speaking Korean?
posted by Houstonian at 6:08 AM on March 13, 2013


A native Korean speaker assures me that this translation is inaccurate and greatly exaggerated for comedic effect. (Maybe this doesn't need to be said, but it does seem to play into the "North Korea is wacky and insane" American perception.)
posted by deathpanels at 6:09 AM on March 13, 2013 [5 favorites]


Snow coffee...*yummy*
posted by parm=serial at 6:13 AM on March 13, 2013


So wait...we are using NK propaganda as US propaganda?
posted by DU at 6:13 AM on March 13, 2013


If that guy sounded any more like Ze Frank this FPP would have been deleted!
posted by HuronBob at 6:19 AM on March 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


Americans are in-tents.
posted by I'm Doing the Dishes at 6:24 AM on March 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


A native Korean speaker assures me that this translation is inaccurate and greatly exaggerated for comedic effect.

That explains the bit: "There are no birds in the trees." (picture of birds) "Apart from these...which will be eaten on Tuesday.".

It's Kim Jong Un's Flying Circus!
posted by postcommunism at 6:34 AM on March 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


I'd love to watch this video, but I've finished my snow coffee and must now hunt birds for dinner.
Dude, it's not Tuesday.
posted by MrMoonPie at 6:34 AM on March 13, 2013 [5 favorites]


> "A native Korean speaker assures me that this translation is inaccurate and greatly exaggerated for comedic effect."

I have to admit, my thought on watching this was not, "Ha ha, those wacky North Koreans telling their people that everyone in America lives in tents!" It was, rather, "... You know, the number of people in the U.S. who *do* live on the street in freezing weather is a disgrace and a tragedy."
posted by kyrademon at 6:34 AM on March 13, 2013 [19 favorites]


we are using NK propaganda as US propaganda?

What? This is all a snow job?
posted by three blind mice at 6:36 AM on March 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


This is satire, right? This isn't really what the DPRK tells its people, right?
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:38 AM on March 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


...birds which will be eaten on Tuesday."

P.S. They are yummy.
posted by obscurator at 6:39 AM on March 13, 2013 [3 favorites]


"They are grateful to their government for these handouts."

That's the biggest lie in the whole thing!
posted by sonika at 6:44 AM on March 13, 2013 [5 favorites]


Also, relevant: now is the winter of our discount tent!
posted by sonika at 6:46 AM on March 13, 2013 [4 favorites]


America: justa buncha cold homos, shootin' children, awaitin' heroin, eatin' birds and drinkin' snow coffee.
posted by Fists O'Fury at 6:47 AM on March 13, 2013


America: justa buncha cold homos, shootin' children, awaitin' heroin, eatin' birds and drinkin' snow coffee.

And Dennis Rodman.
posted by three blind mice at 6:49 AM on March 13, 2013


MetaFilter: Some people complain about the guns.
posted by Mooseli at 6:49 AM on March 13, 2013


These telephones no longer work...there is no one to call.

Very nice.
posted by jabah at 7:10 AM on March 13, 2013 [4 favorites]


I always savor my morning cup of espressnow, knowing it may be my last.

These telephones no longer work
Also, I've never seen that model of payphone in this country. These days, it's rare to even see a phone in the booth, most of them have been ripped from the wall and/or sucked into some kind of post-DTMF vortex.
posted by obscurator at 7:15 AM on March 13, 2013


Most of the shots were very obviously not from the US. I assumed this is why the translated narrator made the comment about "America... looks exactly like some parts of Europe." The architecture and cars suggest Eastern Europe. Also a pack of lies, railway stations. As in, the very existence of them. There's more snow coffee than serious rail travel.
posted by sonika at 7:18 AM on March 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


We ran outta coffee here at chez flapjax just this morning. I said to the wife "snow coffee?" She said "yup, snow coffee left. You want tea?"
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:38 AM on March 13, 2013 [5 favorites]


Needs to be narrated by Werner Herzog.
posted by 2N2222 at 7:43 AM on March 13, 2013 [3 favorites]


I have eaten the birds
that were in the tree
And which you were probably saving
for Tuesday.
Forgive me.
They were delicious. So savory
and so warm.
posted by Splunge at 7:48 AM on March 13, 2013 [15 favorites]


This is hilarious. Graham Fellows at his finest.
posted by Jehan at 8:00 AM on March 13, 2013


I have to say, as an Englishman, this is something of an eye-opener.
posted by devious truculent and unreliable at 10:35 AM on March 13, 2013


AH! Between me clicking the link 20 minutes ago and when i returned to watch it now, it's been taken down! Anyone have another link?
posted by rebent at 11:23 AM on March 13, 2013


Here's where to find the original.

But more importantly... North Korean fabric, coffee, handouts, AND CAKE??? Always making dreams come true!
posted by idealist at 11:30 AM on March 13, 2013


So wait...we are using NK propaganda as US propaganda?
I don't know if I'd call it "propaganda." I imagine this came about in the spirit of, hey, a weird North Korean film about poverty in the U.S. – wouldn't it be fun to overdub this with crazy translations poking fun at how North Korea's propaganda machine?
posted by deathpanels at 11:50 AM on March 13, 2013


Mod note: Swapped the link, carry on with your snow coffee and gun buying.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:21 PM on March 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


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