Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalHispanic Heritage MonthIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

House of America

  • 1997
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
140
YOUR RATING
House of America (1997)
Drama

Boyo lives with his brother Sid, his sister Gwenny and their elderly mother Marlene in an economically depressed area of South-West Wales. Their father has vanished when they were small chil... Read allBoyo lives with his brother Sid, his sister Gwenny and their elderly mother Marlene in an economically depressed area of South-West Wales. Their father has vanished when they were small children, apparently headed for America. The leather-jacketed, motorbike-riding Sid has grown ... Read allBoyo lives with his brother Sid, his sister Gwenny and their elderly mother Marlene in an economically depressed area of South-West Wales. Their father has vanished when they were small children, apparently headed for America. The leather-jacketed, motorbike-riding Sid has grown up obsessed with American culture and dreams of joining his father in the States. When the... Read all

  • Director
    • Marc Evans
  • Writer
    • Edward Thomas
  • Stars
    • Siân Phillips
    • Steven Mackintosh
    • Matthew Rhys
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    140
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Marc Evans
    • Writer
      • Edward Thomas
    • Stars
      • Siân Phillips
      • Steven Mackintosh
      • Matthew Rhys
    • 13User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 1 nomination total

    Photos1

    View Poster

    Top cast15

    Edit
    Siân Phillips
    Siân Phillips
    • Mam
    Steven Mackintosh
    Steven Mackintosh
    • Sid
    Matthew Rhys
    Matthew Rhys
    • Boyo
    Lisa Palfrey
    Lisa Palfrey
    • Gwenny
    Pascal Laurent
    • Clem
    Richard Harrington
    Richard Harrington
    • Cat
    Islwyn Morris
    • Roger the Pop
    Brian Hibbard
    • Wally
    Steve Speirs
    Steve Speirs
    • The Head
    • (as Steven Speirs)
    Dave Duffy
    • Molloy
    Connor McIntyre
    Connor McIntyre
    • Matty
    Andrew Lennon
    Andrew Lennon
    • Off Licence Man
    Donna Edwards
    Donna Edwards
    • Receptionist
    Stella King
    • Woman with Budgie
    Glen Finick
    • Miner
    • Director
      • Marc Evans
    • Writer
      • Edward Thomas
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews13

    6.3140
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    didi-5

    high praise for Steven Mackintosh

    This was the film that should have really propelled Steven Mackintosh into the big time (although his earlier work on TV in The Buddha of Suburbia should have done so too). In 'House of America', as Kerouac-obsessed Sid, he is absolutely superb.

    The rest of the film is hit and miss, although I did like it. Anything with Siân Phillips is usually worth watching and as the on-the-edge Mam doesn't disappoint. As the other kids in the family Matthew Rhys impresses as Boyo, while Lisa Palfrey tackles a difficult role as Gwenny, trapped in her own fantasies.

    Excellent 1990s soundtrack too which adds to the mood. It is a downbeat and powerful film which just stops short of where it could go, but overall a good effort.
    8megyesy

    Pretty depressing film.

    The squalid life of a dysfunctional family, minus a father who ran away, it is believed, to America, who can only cope with the reality of the depressing gloom of a Welsh mining district by escaping from it by immersing themselves in what they think is American culture. This seems to consist of worshiping icons such as literary giant Jack Kerouak, film stars such as Gary Cooper and various myths that centre round Detriot, "the wild west," and other notions conceived and believed by many non-Americans and too many more Americans. As their obsession for things American grows it does reach a point where reality can no longer be blocked. The high quality of acting portraying the grey lives of the people set where the grey landscape meets the grey skies is first rate. Watch it and appreciate seeing and feeling the sunshine, again.
    baitup

    Life in the valleys

    A family saga set in South Wales in which Sid, Gwenny and Boyo succeed in cracking up. A wild and crazy film that's well worth two hours of your time, if you can find it !
    Tiri

    Very impressive

    I was very impressed by this movie. Although a lot of what happens is unpleasant for the characters, I found it strangely uplifting. According to the introduction at the Sydney film festival the writer was trying to make a cry for help about people in Wales taking on others culture and it destroying them. I don't think the movie achieved this, instead becoming an interesting psychological story of one family, done in a fast paced, exciting way. I wish I could get it on video in Australia.
    Ron-162

    An emotionally disturbing drama, perhaps a future classic

    My wife writes: The Cable guide classified this film as a comedy. However,I did not find it amusing. In fact, I thought it was rather depressing, but well acted, particularly the part of Sid, played by Steven MacKintosh. I went to bed feeling grateful that I was not poor and Welsh. To get the credit that this film deserves, it should viewed again by the classifier and shown at a more reasonable hour and, in time, I think that, like "Withnail and I", this film could be a classic.

    More like this

    Patagonia
    6.6
    Patagonia
    Snow Cake
    7.4
    Snow Cake
    Resurrection Man
    5.3
    Resurrection Man
    Hunky Dory
    6.2
    Hunky Dory
    Columbo: Columbo Likes the Nightlife
    7.1
    Columbo: Columbo Likes the Nightlife
    Twin Town
    6.7
    Twin Town
    The Pembrokeshire Murders
    7.1
    The Pembrokeshire Murders
    Elizabeth
    7.4
    Elizabeth
    Mr Burton
    7.0
    Mr Burton
    Hinterland
    7.6
    Hinterland
    Towards Zero
    6.3
    Towards Zero
    Brothers & Sisters
    7.5
    Brothers & Sisters

    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      As of 2023, this is Edward Thomas's only feature film as writer.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siân Phillips at 90 (2024)
    • Soundtracks
      She's A Lady
      Written by Paul Anka
      Performed by Tom Jones

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 10, 1997 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • To spiti tou amerikanikou oneirou
    • Production company
      • Egmond Film & Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 37m(97 min)
    • Color
      • Color

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.