American: An Odyssey to 1947
Official Poster for American: An Odyssey to 1947
Directed byDanny Wu
Written byDanny Wu
Produced byDanny Wu
Starring
Edited byDanny Wu
Music bySean William
Production
company
Maple Road Pictures
Release date
  • 2022 (2022)
Running time
102 minutes
CountryCanada

American: An Odyssey to 1947 is a 2022 Canadian documentary film written, directed, edited, and produced by Danny Wu.[1] The film is a compilation of stories on different Americans, most notably Orson Welles, and Franklin Roosevelt leading to the year 1947.[2] The film premiered at the 2022 Newport Beach Film festival, followed by internationally at the 2023 Thessaloniki Documentary Festival.[3] It was named one of film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum's best films of 2022.[4]

Synopsis

The film begins by exploring the early rise of Orson Welles, from his rise as a prodigy at the Todd School for Boys, to his arrival in Hollywood to direct Citizen Kane.[5] Welles' ascension to stardom is juxtaposed with President Roosevelt's navigation of the Great Depression. As the story approaches World War II, a Japanese American boy named Howard Kakita travels abroad, and an African American soldier named Isaac Woodard enlists in the army. The film explores topics such as the Japanese internment camp, the Atomic bombing of Hiroshima, the emergence of the Civil rights movement, and the beginnings of the Cold War. In the end, as one American returns home, another American is forced to exile.[2][6]

Production

On November 10, 2021, it was reported that Canadian director Danny Wu would produce a new documentary to be about the politics of Orson Welles, with actor Simon Callow as one of the main storytellers, and that the relatives of Isaac Woodard would also appear in the film.[1] UC Berkley announced on October 22, 2022, that historian Gray Brechin will also be included in the film's storytellers.[7]

Release

On October 20, 2022, American premiered at the Newport Beach Film Festival. 10 days later, the film premiered at the Austin film festival where it was nominated for the grand jury award for "Best Documentary."[8] On March 5, 2023, the film made their International premiere at the 25th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, and soon after in Brazil at the It's All True International Documentary Festival in April.[9] In August 2023, Gravitas Ventures acquired the North American distribution rights for a Sept 12 release.[10]

Reception

American: An Odyssey to 1947 has received positive reviews from critics. James Verniere of the Boston Herald called it a "valuable odyssey" that often notes cases of "intersection and symmetry".[11] Tony Williams called it a “remarkable film” that “deserves distribution and future screenings in any respectable film class.”[6] David Sterritt called it "a completely absorbing documentary".[12] Leda Galanou for Flix reviewed the film as having "surprising depth" and showed "how parallel lives can shape each other without people ever meeting. "[13] Andreas Kyrkos for I Avgi called the film "superbly crafted", and that it "respectfully and historically accurately investigates the hidden events of the 1940s."[14] Jonathan Rosenbaum listed the film on his year end list for the "best films of 2022."[4]

References

  1. 1 2 wellesnet (2021-11-10). "'American' from Danny Wu looks at Orson Welles, politics". Wellesnet | Orson Welles Web Resource. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  2. 1 2 American: An Odyssey to 1947, retrieved 2023-03-12
  3. ↑ wellesnet (2023-02-15). "'American: An Odyssey to 1947' bound for Europe". Wellesnet | Orson Welles Web Resource. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  4. 1 2 "La Internacional Cinéfila Poll: Jonathan Rosenbaum: Best Films of 2022". www.yearendlists.com. 2023-01-02. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  5. ↑ wellesnet (2022-09-12). "'American' director talks Orson Welles, politics". Wellesnet | Orson Welles Web Resource. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  6. 1 2 wellesnet (2023-01-10). "'American: An Odyssey to 1947' examines 'subversive' Orson Welles (review)". Wellesnet | Orson Welles Web Resource. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  7. ↑ "Gray Brechin Narrates New Film, American: An Odyssey to 1947 | Berkeley Geography". geography.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  8. ↑ ""American: An Odyssey to 1947" Profiles Orson Welles at Austin Film Festival". Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson. 2022-11-02. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  9. ↑ "Brazil festival to screen 'American: An Odyssey to 1947'". Wellesnet | Orson Welles Web Resource. March 28, 2023.
  10. ↑ Scorziello, Jazz Tangcay,McKinley Franklin,Jaden Thompson,Sophia; Tangcay, Jazz; Franklin, McKinley; Thompson, Jaden; Scorziello, Sophia (2023-08-03). "Impact and Array Crew Team Up to Become Largest Hiring Network in the Entertainment Industry – Film News in Brief". Variety. Retrieved 2023-09-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ Critic, James Verniere | Movie (2023-09-08). "U.S. gets stark closeup in 'American: An Odyssey to 1947'". Boston Herald. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  12. ↑ "David Sterritt with Films in Focus: El Conde; Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose; American: An Odyssey to 1947". ROBIN HOOD RADIO ON DEMAND AUDIO PAGE. 2023-09-22. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  13. ↑ "25ο Φεστιβάλ Ντοκιμαντέρ Θεσσαλονίκης | Μέρα 5η | Οπου τα κοράκια είναι λευκά και η Αγορά κάνει τα μαγικά της - FLIX". flix.gr (in Greek). 7 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  14. ↑ "25ο Φεστιβάλ Ντοκιμαντέρ Θεσσαλονίκης / Όλα όσα είδαμε". Αυγή (in Greek). 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
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