American: An Odyssey to 1947
{{Short description|2022 Canadian documentary film}}
{{Infobox film
| image = American, An Odyssey to 1947 Poster.png
| caption = Official Poster for American: An Odyssey to 1947
| director = Danny Wu
| writer = Danny Wu
| producer = Danny Wu
| starring = {{plainlist|
- Simon Callow
- Richard France
- Howard Kakita
- Gray Brechin
- Laura Williams
- James Naremore }}
| editing = Danny Wu
| music = Sean William
| studio = Maple Road Pictures
| runtime = 102 minutes
| released = {{film date|2022}}
| country = Canada
}}
American: An Odyssey to 1947 is a 2022 Canadian documentary film written, directed, edited, and produced by Danny Wu.{{Cite web |last=wellesnet |date=2021-11-10 |title='American' from Danny Wu looks at Orson Welles, politics |url=https://www.wellesnet.com/american-danny-wu-orson-welles/ |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=Wellesnet {{!}} Orson Welles Web Resource |language=en-US}} The film is a compilation of stories on different Americans, most notably Orson Welles, and Franklin Roosevelt leading to the year 1947.{{Citation |title=American: An Odyssey to 1947 |url=https://www.filmfestival.gr/en/section-tdf/movie/1266/14785 |access-date=2023-03-12 |language=en-gb}} The film premiered at the 2022 Newport Beach Film festival, followed by internationally at the 2023 Thessaloniki Documentary Festival.{{Cite web |last=wellesnet |date=2023-02-15 |title='American: An Odyssey to 1947' bound for Europe |url=https://www.wellesnet.com/american-odyssey-europe/ |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=Wellesnet {{!}} Orson Welles Web Resource |language=en-US}} It was named one of film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum's best films of 2022.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-02 |title=La Internacional Cinéfila Poll: Jonathan Rosenbaum: Best Films of 2022 |url=https://www.yearendlists.com/2022/jonathan-rosenbaum-best-films-of-2022 |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=www.yearendlists.com |language=en-us}}
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.{{Cite web |last=wellesnet |date=2022-09-12 |title='American' director talks Orson Welles, politics |url=https://www.wellesnet.com/american-director-talks-orson-welles-politics/ |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=Wellesnet {{!}} Orson Welles Web Resource |language=en-US}} 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.
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. UC Berkeley announced on October 22, 2022, that historian Gray Brechin will also be included in the film's storytellers.{{Cite web |title=Gray Brechin Narrates New Film, American: An Odyssey to 1947 {{!}} Berkeley Geography |url=https://geography.berkeley.edu/news/gray-brechin-narrates-new-film-american-odyssey-1947 |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=geography.berkeley.edu}}
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."{{Cite web |date=2022-11-02 |title="American: An Odyssey to 1947" Profiles Orson Welles at Austin Film Festival |url=https://weeklywilson.com/american-an-odyssey-to-1947-profiles-orson-welles-at-austin-film-festival/ |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wellesnet.com/american-odyssey-brazil/|title=Brazil festival to screen 'American: An Odyssey to 1947'|date=March 28, 2023|website=Wellesnet | Orson Welles Web Resource}} In August 2023, Gravitas Ventures acquired the North American distribution rights for a Sept 12 release.{{Cite web |last=Scorziello |first=Jazz Tangcay,McKinley Franklin,Jaden Thompson,Sophia |last2=Tangcay |first2=Jazz |last3=Franklin |first3=McKinley |last4=Thompson |first4=Jaden |last5=Scorziello |first5=Sophia |date=2023-08-03 |title=Impact and Array Crew Team Up to Become Largest Hiring Network in the Entertainment Industry – Film News in Brief |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/film-news-in-brief-july-31-2023-1235683349/ |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} On September 26, 2024, the film held a special screening at the Truman Presidential Library.{{Cite web |title=Film Screening and Q&A: "American: An Odyssey to 1947" {{!}} Harry S. Truman |url=https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/events/81943 |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=www.trumanlibrary.gov}}
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".{{Cite web |last=Critic |first=James Verniere {{!}} Movie |date=2023-09-08 |title=U.S. gets stark closeup in ‘American: An Odyssey to 1947’ |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/09/08/u-s-gets-stark-closeup-in-american-an-odyssey-to-1947/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Boston Herald |language=en-US}} Tony Williams called it a “remarkable film” that “deserves distribution and future screenings in any respectable film class.”{{Cite web |last=wellesnet |date=2023-01-10 |title='American: An Odyssey to 1947' examines 'subversive' Orson Welles (review) |url=https://www.wellesnet.com/american-review/ |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=Wellesnet {{!}} Orson Welles Web Resource |language=en-US}} David Sterritt called it "a completely absorbing documentary".{{Cite web|date=2023-09-22 |title=David Sterritt with Films in Focus: El Conde; Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose; American: An Odyssey to 1947 |url=https://robinhoodradioondemand.com/podcast/david-sterritt-with-films-in-focus-el-conde-american-an-odyssey-to-1947-nandor-fodor-and-the-talking-mongoose/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=ROBIN HOOD RADIO ON DEMAND AUDIO PAGE |language=en-US}} Leda Galanou for Flix reviewed the film as having "surprising depth" and showed "how parallel lives can shape each other without people ever meeting. "{{Cite web |title=25ο Φεστιβάλ Ντοκιμαντέρ Θεσσαλονίκης {{!}} Μέρα 5η {{!}} Οπου τα κοράκια είναι λευκά και η Αγορά κάνει τα μαγικά της - FLIX |url=https://flix.gr/news/tidf25-day-five.html |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=flix.gr |date=7 March 2023 |language=el}} Andreas Kyrkos for I Avgi called the film "superbly crafted", and that it "respectfully and historically accurately investigates the hidden events of the 1940s."{{Cite web |date=2023-03-07 |title=25ο Φεστιβάλ Ντοκιμαντέρ Θεσσαλονίκης / Όλα όσα είδαμε |url=https://www.avgi.gr/tehnes/441492_ola-osa-eidame |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Αυγή |language=el}} Jonathan Rosenbaum listed the film on his year end list for the "best films of 2022." Chuck Braverman put the film on his "best of 2023" list.{{Cite web |title=GREAT FEATURE DOCUMENTARIES 2023 Some of the very best of the year |url=https://www.westdoconline.com/so/45OnLp88D?languageTag=en&fbclid=IwY2xjawFjSlZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHV6esv4jcAQmCExmRxnwCNQY8DTKjv6_iFEXGksg3an8Hg4IGY2yQh8FAQ_aem_qaS7lYaA_-rjy2VhLwMsiA |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=www.westdoconline.com |language=en}}