{"id":94516,"date":"2024-01-04T01:38:24","date_gmt":"2024-01-04T08:38:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=94516"},"modified":"2024-01-04T14:21:30","modified_gmt":"2024-01-04T21:21:30","slug":"america-america-1963","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=94516","title":{"rendered":"America America (1963)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I believe that in America, I will be washed clean.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Poster-203x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-94519\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Poster-203x300.png 203w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Poster-87x128.png 87w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Poster-183x270.png 183w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Poster.png 619w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 203px) 100vw, 203px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen a young Greek (Stathi Giallelis) in 1890s Turkey begins his journey towards Constantinople and then America, he encounters seemingly endless obstacles to success.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Elia Kazan Films<\/li>\n<li>Immigrants and Immigration<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nElia Kazan wrote and directed this highly personal film (based on his own book) about the obsessive determination of a young man striving toward America. Life for Stavros (Giallelis) and his family and village at the turn of the century in Turkey is rough, hard-scrabble, and marked by ethnic strife and violence: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Ice.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Ice-1024x566.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"354\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-94537\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Ice-1024x566.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Ice-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Ice-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Ice-768x425.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Ice-488x270.png 488w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Ice-1038x576.png 1038w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Ice.png 1293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Fire.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Fire-1024x564.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"353\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-94536\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Fire-1024x564.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Fire-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Fire-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Fire-768x423.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Fire-490x270.png 490w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Fire.png 1279w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; making it easy to see why an alternative subsistence is so highly valued. Indeed, the initial portions of the film masterfully show the relentless determination needed to strive towards a better existence, with Stavros given all the family&#8217;s assets as he sets out to seek his fortunes. We get a strong sense of how urgent Stavros&#8217;s desire is to make a path for himself &#8212; and how quickly he&#8217;s taken advantage of again and again, first by a roving con-artist (Louis Antonio): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Antonio.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Antonio-1024x554.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"346\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-94530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Antonio-1024x554.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Antonio-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Antonio-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Antonio-768x416.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Antonio-499x270.png 499w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Antonio.png 1299w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and later by a prostitute (Joanna Frank) who has few choices herself for survival. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Prostitute.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Prostitute-1024x570.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"356\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-94532\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Prostitute-1024x570.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Prostitute-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Prostitute-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Prostitute-768x427.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Prostitute-485x270.png 485w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Prostitute-1038x576.png 1038w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Prostitute.png 1285w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>For better and for worse, Kazan used a mostly unprofessional cast to tell his story &#8212; and while Giallelis seems reasonably well-cast in the lead role, his lack of range and one dominant expression of stoic determination ultimately becomes wearying over the three-hour run-time. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Stavros2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Stavros2-1024x574.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"359\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-94526\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Stavros2-1024x574.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Stavros2-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Stavros2-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Stavros2-768x431.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Stavros2-481x270.png 481w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Stavros2.png 1289w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As a notable contrast, a young man he meets on a mountain road early in the film (Gregory Rozakis) &#8212; and who plays a pivotal role later on &#8212; engenders much more pathos. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Rozakis.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Rozakis-1024x569.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"356\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-94527\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Rozakis-1024x569.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Rozakis-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Rozakis-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Rozakis-768x427.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Rozakis-486x270.png 486w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Rozakis-1038x576.png 1038w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Rozakis.png 1291w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Also distracting is the obvious dubbing throughout the entire film, with Estelle Helmsley&#8217;s voice as Grandmother Topouzoglou particularly grating.  <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Hemsley.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Hemsley-1024x574.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"359\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-94529\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Hemsley-1024x574.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Hemsley-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Hemsley-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Hemsley-768x430.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Hemsley-482x270.png 482w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Hemsley.png 1287w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the entire middle hour or so of this film &#8212; in which Stavros (Giallelis) is introduced to the daughter (Joanna Frank) of a wealthy merchant (Paul Mann) who is incredibly eager to marry her off &#8212; extends the movie far beyond its ideal length and narrative thrust. While I understand that it&#8217;s meant to show the life of comfort, certainty, and male domination Stavros must deliberate upon and possibly reject as he continues his impulse towards America, there isn&#8217;t enough dramatic action to warrant the time or emotional energy spent on this section.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Wife.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Wife-1024x557.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"348\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-94528\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Wife-1024x557.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Wife-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Wife-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Wife-768x418.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Wife-497x270.png 497w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Wife.png 1293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Regardless of its flaws, however, film fanatics will likely want to check this unique film out once simply for its historical relevance. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fine period details and sets<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Period-Detail.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Period-Detail-1024x569.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"356\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-94531\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Period-Detail-1024x569.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Period-Detail-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Period-Detail-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Period-Detail-768x426.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Period-Detail-486x270.png 486w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Period-Detail-1038x576.png 1038w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Period-Detail.png 1295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Good use of location shooting in Turkey and Greece<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Walking.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Walking-1024x572.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"358\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-94525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Walking-1024x572.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Walking-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Walking-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Walking-768x429.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Walking-484x270.png 484w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Walking.png 1295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Haskell Wexler&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Cinematography-1024x565.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"353\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-94524\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Cinematography-1024x565.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Cinematography-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Cinematography-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Cinematography-768x423.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Cinematography-490x270.png 490w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/America-America-Cinematography.png 1293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>Manos Hadjidakis&#8217;s score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo &#8212; though I went back and forth on my vote for this one, and it&#8217;s certainly worth a look for its historical significance as an intriguing outing by a master director. Selected for preservation by the Library of Congress in 2001 as being &#8220;culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant&#8221;.\t<\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0056825\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slantmagazine.com\/dvd\/america-america\/\">Slant Magazine DVD Review (spoiler alert)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/newspapers?id=yG8QAAAAIBAJ&#038;sjid=LIwDAAAAIBAJ&#038;pg=1604%2C92928\">Village Voice Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I believe that in America, I will be washed clean.&#8221; Synopsis: When a young Greek (Stathi Giallelis) in 1890s Turkey begins his journey towards Constantinople and then America, he encounters seemingly endless obstacles to success. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Elia Kazan Films Immigrants and Immigration Review: Elia Kazan wrote and directed this highly personal film (based on his own book) about the obsessive determination of a young man striving toward America. Life for Stavros (Giallelis) and his family and&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=94516\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-94516","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94516","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=94516"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94516\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":94556,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94516\/revisions\/94556"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=94516"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=94516"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=94516"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}