The Fall of the American Empire

The Fall of the American Empire

Year: 2019

Runtime: 127 min

Language: French

Director: Denys Arcand

Echo Score: 64
ComedyCrime

A former philosophy professor now working as a deliveryman finds himself entangled in a dangerous situation when a robbery goes wrong, leaving a large sum of money within his reach. As the police investigation intensifies, he grapples with a difficult moral dilemma, questioning his own principles while contemplating the allure of keeping the stolen cash and facing the potential repercussions.

Light-hearted
Happy ending
Emotionally light
Medium intensity
Steady pacing
Moderate complexity

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Timeline & Setting – The Fall of the American Empire (2019)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Fall of the American Empire (2019). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The movie unfolds in a contemporary setting, highlighting modern societal challenges such as financial inequality, crime, and the complexities of urban life. The release of a notorious biker from prison adds a modern twist to the ongoing criminal elements in the film.

Location

Montreal, The Street

Montreal, a vibrant metropolis in Canada, is known for its rich history, arts, and culture. The bustling streets are filled with diverse communities, and spots like The Street serve as vital charitable initiatives aimed at supporting the homeless, reflecting the city's commitment to social issues.

🏙️ City 🏠 Charity

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:57

Main Characters – The Fall of the American Empire (2019)

Meet the key characters of The Fall of the American Empire (2019), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Pierre-Paul Daoust (Alexandre Landry)

Pierre-Paul is an intelligent yet conflicted individual trying to find his place in a world driven by material gains. His decision to steal cash marks a pivotal turning point, forcing him into dangerous alliances and ethical quandaries as he navigates the criminal underbelly of the city.

🧠 Intellectual 💸 Opportunist 🎭 Ethical Dilemma

Sylvain 'The Brain' Bigras (Rémy Girard)

Bigras is a cunning and knowledgeable figure who uses his background in finance to manipulate circumstances to his advantage. His expertise places him at the center of Pierre-Paul's increasingly risky endeavors, and he embodies the duality of criminal intellect and moral ambiguity.

🧠 Cunning 💼 Financial Expert ⚖️ Morally Ambiguous

Camille Lafontaine (Maripier Morin)

Camille is a captivating escort who becomes entangled with Pierre-Paul as their lives intersect through chance encounters. Her complex character navigates the world of relationships formed out of necessity, embodying both allure and skepticism as she questions motivations and loyalties.

💃 Alluring 🔍 Skeptical 🤔 Complex

Wilbrod Taschereau (Pierre Curzi)

Taschereau is a specialist in unethical financial practices, seeking to profit from the chaos caused by the stolen cash. His experience with tax evasion plots reveals a character driven by the lure of financial gain, adding layers to the film's exploration of crime and morality.

💼 Manipulative 🎭 Deceptive 💰 Greedy

Pete La Bauve (Louis Morissette)

Pete is a police officer caught between his duty and the unfolding chaos around him. His character highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in a rapidly changing urban environment, as he seeks to maintain order amidst rising criminal activity.

👮‍♂️ Law Enforcement ⚖️ Seeker of Justice 🚨 Duty-bound

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:57

Major Themes – The Fall of the American Empire (2019)

Explore the central themes of The Fall of the American Empire (2019), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💰 Greed

Greed serves as a central theme throughout the film, impacting the choices of many characters. The allure of easy money drives Pierre-Paul to seize stolen cash, prompting a series of moral dilemmas and dangerous encounters. As the characters navigate their increasingly entangled lives, greed pushes them toward betrayal and violence.

⚖️ Justice

The theme of justice emerges through the contrasting actions of the characters, from Pierre-Paul's criminality to the police's pursuit of law and order. The story explores the grey areas of justice, questioning the morality behind actions taken for survival versus the legal implications of those choices. Discussions about social issues further highlight the search for true justice within an inequitable system.

🤝 Community

Community is depicted through the interactions of characters within the urban landscape of Montreal. The involvement of various individuals in charitable efforts reflects a desire for connection and support against societal challenges. The film demonstrates how collaboration among unlikely partners can arise from shared struggles.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:57

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Quirky Crime Comedies with Moral Questions like The Fall of the American Empire

Crime capers that mix moral dilemmas with social satire and wit.If you liked the blend of crime, comedy, and moral philosophy in The Fall of the American Empire, explore these movies. They feature similar stories of unlikely criminals, witty social commentary, and heists that make you think as much as they make you laugh.

quirkymorally ambiguoussatiricalcerebralsocially consciouswittyurban

Narrative Summary

The narrative typically begins with a chaotic, high-stakes event like a robbery, but quickly shifts focus to the intellectual and moral fallout for the protagonists. Characters are often intellectually inclined or socially aware, leading to humorous and reflective debates about greed, inequality, and justice as they decide what to do with their ill-gotten gains.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a unique balance: they present crime scenarios with genuine stakes, but filter them through a lens of comedy and social observation. The emotional weight remains light, prioritizing clever dialogue and character-driven dilemmas over grim violence or despair.

Movies about Intellectuals in Criminal Situations like The Fall of the American Empire

When book-smart protagonists find themselves in a street-smart world.Find more movies like The Fall of the American Empire where cerebral heroes face criminal dilemmas. These films feature philosophers, academics, or thinkers who use their intellect to navigate dangerous plots, creating a unique blend of action and ideas.

cerebralthoughtfulunlikely herophilosophicalmorally complexurban thrillersatirical

Narrative Summary

The plot revolves around a character whose life of the mind is disrupted by a violent or criminal event. Their journey is one of applying abstract principles to concrete, high-stakes problems. The conflict often arises from the gap between their intellectual understanding of morality and the pragmatic demands of survival, leading to unexpected alliances and solutions.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their unique protagonist archetype and the central theme of intellect versus instinct. They share a cerebral, almost detached perspective on crime, where the internal moral debate is as compelling as the external threat, creating a distinctively thoughtful vibe within the crime genre.

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The Fall of the American Empire Summary

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The Fall of the American Empire Timeline

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The Fall of the American Empire Timeline

The Fall of the American Empire Spoiler-Free Summary

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The Fall of the American Empire Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Fall of the American Empire

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