Archives for September 10, 2023

Following the rise and fall of Orson Welles, while interweaving stories of diverse individuals amidst the backdrop of the Great Depression, World War II, and the dropping of the atomic bomb, director Danny Wu’s American: An Odyssey To 1947 sheds light on the defining moments that shaped the destinies of the subjects, and the nation’s collective consciousness.  In the early 1940s, director Orson Welles navigates his meteoric Hollywood rise. As WWII begins, a Japanese American boy visits abroad, and an African American soldier enlists in the army. As the story heads towards 1947, each character follows their own ambitions in search of their American identity. The tone of the film is split into two halves, with the first half being about the romantic rise of a great American director, and the second half transitioning into the realities of race and life in the Jim Crow era. In the end, as one American returns home, another American is forced into exile.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Eshaan M. comments, “With vivid interviews and b-roll to complement its engaging narrative, American: An Odyssey to 1947 had me glued to the screen and enhanced my understanding of a transformative era in American history.” See his full review and interview with director, Danny Wu below.

American: An Odyssey to 1947

By Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 17

With vivid interviews and b-roll to complement its engaging narrative, American: An Odyssey to 1947 had me glued to the screen and enhanced my understanding of a transformative era in American history. 

The film takes viewers through the first half of the 20th century, following stories as diverse as Citizen Kane star Orson Welles rising to fame, to FDR shaking up politics, to Japanese citizens being shipped to internment camps. Things students might yawn at in class — the makeup of the Northern and Southern Democratic Party, for example — are made captivating as they’re examined through different lenses, including seeing mid-century politics through the shifting relationship of media magnate William Randolph Hearst and FDR. 

Thanks to its detailed, well-paced interviews and high-quality photos and videos, American: An Odyssey to 1947 seems destined not for a history classroom but for the silver screen. It might take some time to get used to the multiple narratives being presented, as there isn’t much of a transition between them, but viewers can be assured that all becomes clear within the first thirty minutes. The cinematography is clean and clear, as is the soundtrack. My favorite part of the editing is the interspersed of archival interview footage from Orson Welles and others from the 20th century, as well as the somewhat-experimental initial and final sequences shot in black-and-white. 

This film promotes patriotism, but also suggests there’s more to American identity than meets the eye — some bad and some good. The film is all about looking back at our experiences and doing better going forward.

American: An Odyssey to 1947 gets 5 stars out of 5 from me and I recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. The film opens in select theaters beginning September 8, 2023 in New York City and releases on digital platforms September 12, 2023.  Trailer:

Death is the only certainty we have in life, and yet we know so little about it. This documentary explores the different aspects of the afterlife including near death experiences, channeling the dead and the attempt to extend one’s lifespan thru cryonics. After living through a global pandemic, death has been placed at the forefront of our lives however what actually happens to us when we die is still shrouded in mystery. There are some cultures that believe that death is truly the end, however there is a growing community of people around the world who claim to have had near death experiences. These people, in the 10s of millions believe that they have travelled beyond the grave and have proof of the afterlife and that consciousness lives on after our bodies die. If this is true then can the terminally ill freeze their bodies at the time of death, to be brought back to life and healed in the future? There are others who possess a sixth sense and claim to have conversations with the dead or have experienced paranormal phenomena involving visitations by ghosts. Does this mean that humans can communicate with the spirits of people who have died and if so, can these spirits come back to haunt us? Serena DC meets with the world’s leading scientists, doctors, experts, mediums & paranormal investigators to discover if there really is life Beyond The Grave.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic SaniyaRain F. comments, “Beyond the Grave is one of the most informative and awakening documentaries I have ever watched! The whole concept of it is alluring because who wouldn’t want to learn about what happens in the afterlife. I also enjoy it because of how everything is so clearly explained. The documentary covers lots of spiritual discoveries and intriguing stories.” See her full review below.

By SaniyaRain F., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15  

  
Beyond the Grave is one of the most informative and awakening documentaries I have ever watched! The whole concept of it is alluring because who wouldn’t want to learn about what happens in the afterlife. I also enjoy it because of how everything is so clearly explained. The documentary covers lots of spiritual discoveries and intriguing stories. It is also amusing to watch if you are interested in paranormal activity. 

 
The plot of Beyond the Grave follows Serena DC who is on a mission to figure out as much as she can about what happens after you die. She travels around meeting with different experts, doctors, mediums, and even paranormal investigators who all have stories to disclose. Throughout her trips Serena attains new knowledge that she is using to answer the main question of what really happens to one’s soul after they pass and other factors that involve their life before death. 

 
Beyond the Grave has loads of information and each piece adds a bit to the puzzle. The main reason Serena interviews all of these people is because the majority of them share at least one thing, which is the fact that they faced death head on in their own way. For the ones who didn’t, they are professionals when it comes to life and death situations. One of the people she meets whose narrative touched me was Susana Grau. She gained abilities after her near-death experience to the point that she can communicate with present spirits. She gave Ms. DC some really interesting information. Another interesting person is Ellen Whealton, who witnessed things out of earth’s reach that changed her life for the better and made her who she is today. Each of the people Serena talks with explains their stories and how they changed their lives. The documentary is very well executed from the camera work to the interviews. 

  
The film’s message is to show and prove that death, the one assured thing in life, may sound scary but it could truly be just the beginning of something unimaginable to the human mind and its analysis should be seen as such. 

  
I give Beyond the Grave 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 13 to 18, plus adults. Beyond the Grave releases September 5, 2023, on VOD! 

Trailer: