Watch American Pastoral

American Pastoral is a 2016 movie adaptation of Philip Roth's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. Directed by Ewan McGregor, this poignant drama revolves around the life of Seymour "Swede" Levov (played by McGregor), a successful businessman and former high school sports star who lives in New Jersey, USA, with his wife, Dawn (played by Jennifer Connelly), and daughter, Merry (played by Dakota Fanning).

The story begins in the 1960s, during the era of the Vietnam War and social unrest in the United States. Merry, who is initially portrayed as a shy and reserved young girl, becomes increasingly politically aware and radicalized. She joins a leftist militant group and participates in a bomb attack that kills a local post office worker. Merry goes into hiding, leaving her parents devastated and confused about their daughter's actions.

Swede then embarks on a journey to find Merry and clear her name, while simultaneously trying to keep his family and business together. He goes to great lengths to uncover the truth behind Merry's whereabouts and finds himself caught in a web of deception and betrayal. Along the way, he discovers the dark secrets that existed within his seemingly idyllic family and society as a whole.

The movie is a poignant exploration of the American Dream and its disillusionment, as well as the impact of political upheaval on the lives of ordinary people. It touches on themes of identity, family, love, and sacrifice, as well as the socio-political struggles of the 1960s and the effects of war on society. The characters are complex and multi-dimensional, with both positive and negative aspects highlighted throughout the film.

The acting performances are superb, with Ewan McGregor delivering a convincing portrayal of Swede's inner turmoil and emotional conflict. Jennifer Connelly brings depth and nuance to the role of Swede's wife, Dawn, and Dakota Fanning shines as the troubled and rebellious Merry.

The cinematography is stunning, with beautiful shots of the New Jersey landscape and cities during the 1960s. The editing and pacing are on point, creating tension and suspense that keep viewers engaged throughout the movie. The script, written by John Romano, does justice to Roth's novel and captures the complexity and depth of the original story.

Overall, American Pastoral is a compelling and thought-provoking drama that raises questions about identity, family, and the American Dream. It is a finely crafted movie that deserves to be seen for its excellent acting, direction, cinematography, and storytelling.

American Pastoral is a 2016 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1 and a MetaScore of 43.