America, America (DVD)

Amazon.com Elia Kazan's America America, a three-hour epic feature starring Stathis Giallelis as Kazan's uncle Stavros Topouzoglou, is a complete departure from Kazan's other classics, such as East of Eden and A Streetcar Named Desire. In all three, though, Kazan discovered and championed young heroic male protagonists, James Dean and Marlon Brando in the latter two. As one of the founders of the Actor's Studio and Method Acting, Kazan apparently coached Giallelis throughout this biographical project that tells the story of Kazan's Greek uncle, struggling under the Turkish thumb in Armenia, who works throughout his youth to emigrate to America. America America, as a story about political repression and culture clash, is magnificent enough, since its long length lends the film the wide angle that novels encompass. But add to this a stunningly heartfelt portrayal of Stavros by the youthful Giallelis, in which close-ups of his dark eyes and furrowed brow continuously add pathos to the drama, and one gets a most chilling portrait of the desperation and determination indicative of the many people who came through Ellis Island at the end of the 19th century. Beginning in the 1890s, this film opens on Stavros's rural family in Anatolia, toiling in the beautiful countryside as his father struggles to appease Turkish politicians. From the outset, the film exudes tension, as the friends of the Greeks, the neighboring Armenians, are targeted by the Turks during violent attempts at cultural sublimation. Stavros, as the sympathetic character, is established as an open-minded boy who cannot separate mistreatment of others from himself. Thus the story moves along, as he seeks opportunity in Constantinople, falls in love with the lovely daughter (Linda Marsh) of a wealthy merchant, then with a Greek-American (Joanna Frank) who further fuels his American dream. The rich subtlety of the acting throughout is what makes this film astonishingly real. There is never a moment, even when long, rolling landscape shots punctuate the human dramas, that digresses from Stavros's psychological desires. Additionally, critic Foster Hirsch's commentary on this edition fleshes out the film's evolution. Because of the depth of character throughout, Elia Kazan's America America speaks not only as tribute to Kazan's willful uncle, but also to anyone whose family history bears the marks of migration, foreignness, and the suffering that triumph is made of. --Trinie Dalton Product Description America, America (DVD) Living in the 1890s, Stavros Topouzoglow is a young Greek living underthe oppression of the Turks, whose fantasy-filled ideas of immigratingto America are soon changed by reality. After being entrusted with hisfamily's money, he is sent on a long journey to the Turkish capital ofConstantinople with hopes of rescuing his cousin's failing business.Despite the cruelties, betrayals, and career setbacks Stavros facesalong the way, he is able to form strong and lasting friendships whichhelp him through difficult times, and towards his goal of reaching theland of opportunity. ]]>
ASIN: B004CNK59C
VSKU: DBV.B004CNK59C.A
Condition: Acceptable
Author/Artist:Stathis Giallelis|Elia Kazan|Frank Wolff|Elena Karam
Binding: Dvd
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: Individually inspected: Guaranteed to play perfectly or your money back. Case will show wear, and may be in library packaging. Ships fast!