Peter Balakian to introduce Kazan's 'America, America' screening
Peter Balakian, Foster Hirsch to introduce Elia Kazan’s ‘America, America’
The Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee, New Jersey will screen Elia Kazan's 1963 film "America, America" on September 13 at 5 p.m. The Oscar-winning black-and-white film, nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture, follows Kazan's uncle's journey from an Ottoman village through Istanbul to Ellis Island during a period of violence against Christian minorities, including Armenians and Greeks.
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Peter Balakian and Brooklyn College film historian Foster Hirsch will introduce the screening and lead discussion. Balakian, author of the memoir "Black Dog of Fate" and essays on the film's historical significance, emphasized the importance of contextualizing the film's depiction of Armenian persecution. The Barrymore Film Center, located in the birthplace of the American film industry, offers screenings and cultural programming.
