The Dells

Nellie Kluz
United States | 2024 | 71 min
World premiere
Languages : English, Turkish, Spanish
Subtitles : English, French

At Wisconsin Dells, the world capital of water parks, foreign students are employed on summer work visas. This programme, presented as an immersion into American culture, is also a way of profiting from cheap labour. An inspired portrait of contemporary America through the eyes of this young generation.

In Wisconsin Dells, the waterpark capital of the world, international students from Turkey, Russia, Romania and Jamaica are employed thanks to the Summer Work Travel Program visa available in the United States. This programme, presented as an opportunity to immerse oneself in American culture, is also an underhand way of taking advantage of cheap labour to run the machine of entertainment and consumerism at as low a cost as possible. American director Nellie Kluz brilliantly captures the feelings of these young adults, who are employed for the summer as cleaners, waiting staff and sales assistants, in a collective portrait which evokes heat and sex, but also exploitation. She takes us behind the scenes of the cardboard scenery, where everyone is looking to earn a few dollars. “I want to be rich.” - “Everyone wants to be rich.” The lesson seems to be that of business above all else. A shimmering, poppy portrait of contemporary America and the globalised world, from the perspective of a young and dynamic generation.

Alice Riva

The Dells, 2024
The Sunken Smile, 2019
Serpents and Doves, 2018
Must See, 2016
All the Witches, 2015
Video for Derek, 2015
Gold Party, 2012
Young Bird Season, 2011