Sean Baker is this kind of director who has a leg, an identity, a kind of madeleine that comes back constantly, in his shots, in his subjects. An America that only he shows. Red Rocket is in this line, a film about the forgotten of the American dream, those who still believe in it. Red Rocket is the story of a porn actor who returns to his hometown in Texas City. Mikey Saber, his stage name, following a reversal of fortune, arrives at his ex-mother-in-law and his ex-wife at the same time. 
Mikey seeks to make a fortune again and will find a young girl who dreams of somewhere a little brighter.He will try to convince her to get into porn. Throughout the story, Mikey rides his bike through this lost Texas town, in one of those corners where you only live because you were born there. Lost between the towers of the factories where the only exit is the one you make to go to the local donut seller. 
Sean Baker films this during the summer before the 2016 US elections, this boredom, the lack of activity, all with delicacy, with humor also through the lines, the ridicule of Mikey and his shenanigans. Mikey is endearing despite all his flaws. It feels totally lost. We let ourselves be trapped by Sean Baker. From this character to the good head, seller of his person who knows how to make us laugh, in a word endearing, despite everything. The film is reminiscent of Baker's previous film The Florida Project, a film about a little girl and her mother in South Orlando. Baker films these regions that are only seen in documentaries. Baker is a director of reality who speaks of this population disappointed by the system that no longer believes in politics, that no longer believes in themselves, those who only dream. 
Hooper's America
The film is also reminiscent of a '93 film, Gilbert Grape by Lasse Hallström. The Swedish director's film is about Gilbert played by Johnny Deep who lives in Endora, Iowa. Small town there too, a film where Gilbert takes care of Arnie his disabled brother played by the young Leonardo DiCaprio. This America as in the photos of Eggleston or the paintings of Hooper, it is the one we see in this film. https://youtu.be/S55D_BVovyA Red Rocket is released Wednesday, February 2 in cinemas. Baker delivers a film that will delight its viewers. Baker films things that are only seen at home. Things that may not make you dream but that make him human and this is his greatest strength.
