In 1975, James Benning co-directed a 27-minute short titled The United States of America with Bette Gordon. In that film, the audience traveled through the United States, from the perspective of a passenger in the backseat of a car. Almost 50 years later, Benning presents a new experience for the audience under the same title. A fixed camera captures different locations in the United States, arranged in alphabetical order. As always, Benning’s film not only connects the present with cinematic moments but also leads us to experience moments of visual contemplation and frees our minds to allow abstract thoughts to blossom. His films are the most effective remedy for detox-ing our brains from the audiovisual bombardment that we have gotten accustomed to today. [Sung MOON]