Lost in America (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The story begins in Los Angeles, where David and Linda Howard live their initial yuppie lifestyle. Their journey then takes them to Las Vegas after a gamble leads to financial ruin, followed by a stay in Safford, a small town in Arizona, before they ultimately return to New York City.

• los angeles
• las vegas
• safford arizona
• new york city
• settings

The movie is set in the 1980s, a decade defined by economic prosperity and the rise of yuppie culture in America. This era's emphasis on materialism and career advancement directly shapes the Howards' initial lifestyle and motivations.

• 1980s
• time period
• yuppie culture
• decade

The film examines disillusionment with materialistic values through the Howards' journey. Their initial excitement about abandoning stable lives reveals the allure and deception of the American dream. As they face consequences, the story shows the conflict between personal desires and societal expectations.

• disillusionment
• american dream
• materialism
• societal expectations

David and Linda encounter numerous difficulties as they navigate their new lives outside the corporate world. From losing their life savings to facing mockery in low-wage jobs, their experience demonstrates the unexpected challenges of breaking free from societal norms and starting over.

• struggle
• starting over
• financial ruin
• challenges

Redemption comes through David and Linda's realization that their former stable life, which they once took for granted, was actually valuable. David's desire to return to his old job symbolizes their acceptance of stability, and the news of an upcoming child hints at new beginnings and renewal.

• redemption
• renewal
• new beginnings
• stability

The film centers on David and Linda Howard, a yuppie couple living a high-society lifestyle in Los Angeles. David is a corporate success who struggles with feelings of inadequacy after losing his job, while Linda is his supportive but impulsive wife who undergoes her own transformation throughout their journey.

• david howard
• linda howard
• main characters
• yuppie couple

David is motivated by a desire to escape corporate expectations and prove he can succeed on his own terms. However, his journey reveals his vulnerabilities and societal pressures to conform. His character development illustrates his growing realization of what truly matters in life beyond material success.

• david howard
• character motivation
• corporate success
• personal growth

Linda serves as David's supportive wife and partner in their decision to leave their corporate lives. Her impulsiveness drives significant plot events and leads to consequences that force both characters to confront reality. Throughout the story, she transforms and learns what it means to truly thrive beyond material possessions.

• linda howard
• character role
• transformation
• impulsiveness

The Hoover Dam serves as a symbolic landmark in their travels, representing both their aspirations and harsh realities. It marks a point in their journey where the couple confronts the gap between their dreams and the actual challenges they face while living outside their former high-society existence.

• hoover dam
• landmark
• symbolism
• journey

Each location represents a different stage in the Howards' transformation. Los Angeles represents their initial privileged state, Las Vegas symbolizes the risky gamble that leads to their downfall, Safford, Arizona offers a humbling experience away from luxury, and New York City represents the return to stability and reality.

• locations
• settings
• journey
• transformation

The movie presents a satirical critique of 1980s yuppie culture, highlighting the emptiness of pursuing material success and status. The Howards' journey from arrogance to humility illustrates the film’s message that values centered solely on career advancement and wealth ultimately lead to disillusionment.

• yuppie culture
• satire
• materialism
• corporate values

The film has a bittersweet tone that uses comedy and satire to explore themes of financial ruin and regret. While the subject matter involves serious consequences, the presentation remains more comedic than heavy, creating a mix of relief and resignation rather than pure tragedy in the ending.

• tone
• bittersweet
• satire
• comedy