Tema: Film
Tip: Plakat

48 x 68 cm
2 x presavijen
movie poster, AFFICHE de FILM

America America je američki crno-beli igrani film snimljen 1963. godine u režiji Elije Kazana. Protagonist, čiji je lik inspiriran stvarnom ličnošću Kazanovog strica, je Stavros Topouzoglou (čiji lik tumači Stathis Giallelis), mladi kapadokijski Grk, koji 1890-ih, gonjen siromaštvom i osmanskim ugnjetavanjem, odlazi u Carigrad kako bi odatle pokušao emigrirati u SAD. Radnja prati njegove napore da zaradi dovoljno novaca za brodsku kartu i ode u `obećanu zemlju` gde bi mogao pružiti bolji život sebi i svojoj porodici.

America America se često navodi kao Kazanov najosobniji projekat, odnosno film u kome je odao počast svojoj porodici ali i svojoj domovini. Nakon premijere je dobio niz prestižnih nagrada, uključujući Kazanov Zlatni globus za najboljeg režisera. Mladom grčkom glumcu Stathisu Giallelisu to je bila najuspešnija uloga u životu te je nakon nje smatran jednom od budućih velikih zvezda svetskog filma.

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America America (British title The Anatolian Smile—a reference to an ongoing acknowledgment of the character Stavros` captivating smile) is a 1963 American dramatic film directed, produced and written by Elia Kazan, adapted from his own book, published in 1962.

Inspired by the life of Kazan`s uncle, Avraam Elia Kazantzoglou, the director uses little-known cast members, with the entire storyline revolving around the central performance of Greek actor Stathis Giallelis, twenty-two years old at the time of production, who is in virtually every scene of the nearly three-hour movie.

In the late 1890s, Cappadocian Greek Stavros Topouzoglou (Giallelis) lives in an impoverished village below Mount Argaeus in Ottoman Turkey. Stavros witnesses the Hamidian massacres against Greek and Armenian Christians. The life of the Cappadocian Greeks and Armenians of Kayseri is depicted, including the traditional cliff cave dwellings in which Stavros` grandmother lives. Stavros is entrusted by his father with the family`s financial resources in a mission of hope to the Turkish capital Constantinople (renamed Istanbul in 1930), where he is to work in the carpet business of his father`s cousin (Harry Davis), although his own dream is to reach the faraway land of opportunity, America. His odyssey begins with a long voyage on a donkey and on foot through the impoverished towns and villages on the way to Constantinople. Due to his kind nature and naivete, he dissipates all the money and arrives at the cousin`s home penniless. The older man is deeply disappointed at this turn of events since he was counting on the infusion of funds to rescue his failing carpet store. Nevertheless, he attempts to salvage the situation by proposing that Stavros marry a wealthy merchant`s (Paul Mann) young daughter (Linda Marsh). Stavros realizes that such a marriage would mean the end of his American dream and adamantly refuses, abruptly leaving the angry cousin.

Now homeless on the streets of the capital, Stavros survives by eating discarded food and working at backbreaking and hazardous jobs. After nearly a year of scrimping and self-denial, he has some savings, but his first time with a young prostitute (Joanna Frank) leaves him, once again, penniless. Sinking even lower, he now finds himself living in an overcrowded subterranean hovel, which becomes a scene of chaos and bloodshed when it is attacked with gunfire by authorities purportedly searching for anarchists and revolutionaries. Severely injured in the mayhem, the unconscious Stavros is thrown among piles of dead bodies slated for disposal into the sea. He subsequently topples from the cart transporting the bodies and painfully makes his way to the cousin`s residence. The relative takes pity on the young man and allows him to recover at his home. Deprived now of all resistance, Stavros agrees to marry his intended bride. Upon being questioned by her regarding his moodiness, however, he admits that he still plans to emigrate to America, using the dowry money to pay for his passage.

At this point Stavros becomes reacquainted with Hohannes (Gregory Rozakis), a young Armenian, whom Stavros had aided with food and clothing during his original voyage to Istanbul. Hohannes informs him that he is being sponsored to America by an employer seeking labor. Stavros manages to secure his own passage with the aid of the middle aged wife (Katherine Balfour) of wealthy Armenian-American businessman Artoon Kebabian (Robert H. Harris), a client of his prospective father-in-law. He tells his intended bride that he cannot marry her, and subsequently embarks on the voyage on board SS Kaiser Wilhelm.

There is, however, another major impediment— Stavros` shipboard affair with Mrs. Kebabian is discovered. Her enraged husband lodges a criminal complaint against Stavros, and rescinds his offer of a job in America, which will result in deportation back to Turkey. As everything looks bleak, however, the tubercular Hohannes after he is discovered by the immigration services jumps off the ship knowing that he can never enter America. This sacrifice enables Stavros to take Hohannes` place.

With the climactic image of the Statue of Liberty as the boatload of immigrants docks in New York Harbor, Stavros puts his tribulations behind him, starting out as a shoeshine boy and gathering the pennies and dollars that will eventually bring his family to the land where their descendants, including Elia Kazan, will have the chance to fulfill their potential.

Elia Kazan`s closing narration
`And he did bring them. It took a number of years, but one by one, he brought them here. Except for his father. That old man died where he was born.This film was made in Turkey and Greece. It was photographed by Haskell Wexler. It was edited by Dede Allen. The production designer was Gene Callahan. The costuming by Anna Hill Johnstone. The music was composed by Manos Hadjidakis. All under the management of Charles Maguire. And here are the actors: Stathis Giallelis, Frank Wolff, Harry Davis, Elena Karam, Estelle Hemsley, Gregory Rozakis, Lou Antonio, Salem Ludwig, John Marley, Joanna Frank, Paul Mann, Linda Marsh, Robert Harris, Katharine Balfour`.

Stathis Giallelis as Stavros Topouzoglou
Frank Wolff as Vartan Damadian
Harry Davis as Isaac Topouzoglou
Elena Karam as Vasso Topouzoglou
Estelle Hemsley as Grandmother Topouzoglou
Gregory Rozakis as Hohannes Gardashian
Lou Antonio as Abdul
Salem Ludwig as Odysseus Topouzoglou
John Marley as Garabet
Joanna Frank as Vartuhi
Paul Mann as Aleko Sinnikoglou
Linda Marsh as Thomna Sinnikoglou
Robert H. Harris as Aratoon Kebabian
Katharine Balfour as Sophia Kebabian