Released in 1995 to general indifference, absolute flop at the global box office, “Sacrificial Generation”, signed by the brothers Albert & Allen Hugues, deserves a serious (re)discovery. A very big film, violent, and powerfully staged.
In the avalanche of American films released during the decade of the 90s, some unfortunately remained in the shadows. For various reasons, moreover: confidential releases, films judged not to be large enough; films sold poorly by studio marketing teams; unfortunate release schedule because in direct competition with a Box Office steamroller…
Or, even more simply, works judged a little too hastily as minor, underestimated at the time of their releases, which time has sometimes taken on the task of reassessing. But not always. This is particularly the case of a very great film: Generation Sacrificed.
Of the brothers Albert and Allen Hughes, we obviously remember their very first shock film, the explosive and very angry Menace II Society in 1993, which chronicled the life of a gang in the African-American district of Watts, in Los Angeles. . We also keep in mind the solid but very perfectible From Hell, adaptation of the monumental graphic novel deemed unsuitable by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell on Jack the Ripper. And, if need be, for good measure, we can add the most recent Book of Eli and its post-apo universe to the pile.
A bit stuck in an ultimately limited filmography, Generation sacrificed was released in 1995. And it’s an understatement to say that the film flopped at the global Box Office, collecting just over $24 million. A cruel injustice.
Here is the trailer…
A nugget totally unknown to us, Generation sacrificed (Dead Presidents in original version, a title that alludes to the portraits of the presidents of the United States printed on banknotes), evokes the painful and tragic story of a group of idle African-American friends who returned from the Vietnam War, forced to participate to a Hold-Up to get out of poverty, in an America in full doubt of itself and its myth ofAmerican Way of Life completely broken down.
Powerfully staged, very violent (the film is rightly banned for those under 16), this fresco is carried by a very fine line-up of actors, starting with a Chris Tucker like you’ve never seen him, light years away from his tics and elastic face of a Fifth Element or Rush Hour.
Touchstone Pictures
Love letter to Martin Scorsese and Brian de Palma, a little as if Les Affranchis had met Les Incorruptibles, Generation sacrificed is also bathed in a formidable soundtrack by Danny Elfman, sip of R&B, and superbly put into images by the director of op’ Lisa Rinzler, who was already at work on Menace II Society.
A very great film, which unfortunately only exists in a very distant DVD edition. It is, to date, never released on Blu-ray with us, unless you turn to import. If by chance an editor could look into the question…