As he introduces the international members of his band, he makes sure to mention that he is himself a naturalized citizen, originally from Scotland. Topics include voter turnout, police violence, and immigration. He weaves together songs from throughout his catalogue - many of which deal with themes of home, feeling safe where one lives, and sharing one's home with others - as a opportunity to gently talk about the present American moment. But he might be working in an even higher artistic register here. ![]() In American Utopia, Byrne explains how that poet, Kurt Schwitters, "used nonsense to make sense of a world that didn't make sense."įor those familiar with Byrne, American Utopia will feel like a companion piece to the Talking Heads' seminal 1994 concert film Stop Making Sense, easily one of the most joyful movies ever made. What sounds like a gibberish chant might actually be an homage to a German dadaist poet who used gibberish to help make sense of the otherwise unfathomable rise of the Nazi party. And yet, what seem like quirks are often artistic choices that contain hidden layers of meaning. He can come off like a socially awkward introvert who is more comfortable observing others than being observed. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.ĭavid Byrne, perhaps best known for spastically dancing in a gigantic suit, is often thought of as a quirky performer. Though it features material from the past 40+ years, American Utopia addresses the present moment in the country's history by talking about immigration, voter turnout, and victims of police violence. The movie is directed by Spike Lee, who mixes theatrical elements from the performance - like the live audience, headset microphones, and set changes - with more traditional film elements like close-ups and a wandering camera. Byrne is accompanied by an international 10-person band who perform live music and choreography with him on stage. ![]() The music is new wave pop with elements of South American and African music woven in. American Utopia is not a traditional musical, because it has no plot, but a theatrical concert featuring songs from throughout Byrne's career as a solo artist and with his former band, Talking Heads. Parents need to know that David Byrne's American Utopia is a concert film of the Broadway show of the same name.
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