America, America

America, America (1963)

a film by Elia Kazan

What is it?

America, America is the story of Stavros Topouzoglou, a greek living in Anatolia at the end of the XIX century when the social conditions made life very difficult for minorities living in Turkey. This movie is the story of his journey from his hometown to America. This is the familiar story of director Elia Kazan, it is an epic story of immigration and family.

Memorable scene

In the deck of the ship that took Stavros to America, a group of first-class passengers accompanied with some musicians enter the third class section and start dancing a waltz and from the shadows jumps Stavros and interrupts the scene and starts dancing and spinning frantically while crying.

Favourite quote

"My name is Elia Kazan. I am Greek by blood, a Turk by birth and an American because my uncle made a journey"

Why is it worth watching this movie?

This is the movie that every immigrant would like to make of its own personal story, it is a movie about the sacrifices and risks of trying to make your life somewhere else when conditions force you to leave your homeland. But it is also a movie about the vitality and strength in human nature that drive people to look for a better life. It is an homage to the homeland, the portraits of the country and the life in Turkey are carefully composed with visual care, memorable characters and great music.