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I first saw this film shortly after it came out when I was a young man, subject to all the passions and sensibilities of young men, an emotional slate on which it was still possible to write with bold strokes. And surely that accounted, to some degree, for the acutely emotional experience this film represented for me. It haunted me for days after I left the theater, and to some degree, has haunted me ever since, continuing to find a kind of timeless relevance in today's world. Very simply it is the story of a young man and his struggle to reach America. It is based on a true story, of the journey undertaken by director Elia Kazan's uncle, and it is played to perfection by a stellar cast, none of whom gives a more mesmerizing performance than young Stathis Giallelis, as Stavros. Because of its splendid, soul stirring music score, its location photography, and its flawless direction, I think it is perhaps the most nearly perfect film I have ever seen, and a deeply moving experience. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Forced to choose a favorite director, it would most likely be Kazan, and this is his masterpiece.
Armand
aesthetic and sentimental. as portrait of a world and like realistic fight for happiness. a film with status of experience who represents not only illustration of Elia Kazan past but the search of sense of a generation. it is a splendid film for the image, music and message. for the bitter portrait of a way, force of detail and something else who could be translation of feelings of viewer. a spectacular movie far by usual definition. and good occasion to remember slices from a land history, sound of a special emotion, price of a travel who is of adventure circle. a story about use of sacrifice and about the building of fundamental decisions. useful. in a not ordinary manner. that could be all. or only beginning for new meeting with this superb Kazan work.
allanlevy
I saw America, America in 1963 when the movie came out and was extremely impressed with the way the years of the great immigration in the US was portrayed. Having Grandparents that immigrated from Turkey and Greece the images and the experience of the trip over to New York range true to the stories told to me by them. In a comment made in a recent blog the writer couldn't understand the desire of the immigrants to come to this country. The passion and the hope these immigrants had only could be understood by someone old enough to experience the whole immigrant movement of the 20's, 30's and 40's. The film itself has beautifully filmed images and a great film score. The film itself has been available as a PAL DVD and regional title in Europe and has not been released here in anything but VHS. Occasionally, it is shown on AMC but not too often. It appears that it has been tied up with some sort of legal issue. It is a perfect film for the Criterion Collection.
ma-cortes
The picture talks about a Greek young from Anatoly ( Turkey ) named Stavros ( Stathis Giallelis ). He is sent by his father to Constantinopla for helping their family . Howewer Stavros only thinks on America . Across the journey he will suffer several misfortunes , risks and odds in his relationships to friends (Frank Wolff, John Marley, Lou Antonio) and enemies . Later on , Stavros will work in laborious employments to obtain a passage in a splendid ship for the promised land.The movie is a magnificent adaptation based on the autobiographic novel of Greek-Turkish director Elia Kazan who being a child emigrated along with his family to United States . Since the initiating he describes memories , emotions and infancy images , besides narrates the persecution to Greeks and Armenians by Turkish that finished in genocide . Kazan reflects the particular characters , rural sets in realism way , folkloric customs , glimmer landscapes as well as interior homes . Kazan achieved a real emotion and sensibility by means of slow-moving scenes and close-ups of protagonists full of dialogs dealing with essential feeling as familiar love , friendship or happiness . These images contrast with the breathtaking outdoors of the mountains and countrysides where are developed the events . Magnificent cinematography in black and white by Haskel Wexler . Awesome and evocative musical score in oriental style by Manos Hadjidakis ( Topkapi ). The motion picture is very well directed by Elia Kazan ( On the waterfront ) . The release won Academy Award , an Oscar for production design and attained three nominations referred to Director and original screenplay , plus obtained a Golden Globe for Director and the biggest prize in Festival of San Sebastian . Rating : Above average and astounding movie. Well worth watching .
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