America's Heart and Soul (2004)

Director:

Louis Schwartzberg

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

Filmmaker Louis Schwartzberg hits the road to capture America's people and its natural beauty.

Plot Keywords:

Hispanic | Blind | Rock Climbing | USA | Artist

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

George Woodard	...	Dairy Farmer, Waterbury, Vermont
Charles Jimmie Sr.	...	Tlingit Indian Elder, Klukwan, Alaska
The Vasquez Brothers	...	Salsa Dancers, Los Angeles, California
Frank Pino	...	Rock Band, Waltham, Massachusetts
David Pino	...	Rock Band, Waltham, Massachusetts
John 'Yac' Yacobellis	...	Bike Messenger, New York, New York
Patty Wagstaff	...	Acrobatic Flyer, St. Augustine, Florida
Paul Stone	...	Explosive Art, Creede, Colorado
Ed Holt	...	Wine Grower, Santa Maria, California
Weirton Steelworkers	...	Themselves, Weirton, West Virginia
Rev. Cecil Williams	...	Himself - Glide Church, San Francisco, California
Janice Miriktani	...	Executive Director, Glide Church, San Francisco, California
David Krakauer	...	Klezmer Clarinetist, New York, New York
James Andrews	...	Jazz Musician, New Orleans, Louisiana
Trombone Shorty	...	Jazz Musician, New Orleans, Louisiana

Runtime:

USA:84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | Dolby SR | SDDS

Company:

Blacklight Films

Movie Connections:

Features Farther Than the Eye Can See (2003) (TV)

A Stunning Celebration of America

This is a visually stunning and emotionally moving tribute to the everyday people that make America great. Unlike those films that live to tell us how horrible things are, this one shows the faith, love and determination that make this nation.

While some chose to focus on celebrity, this shows everyday people. From a farmer and his son in Vermont to a father and his disabled son who run the Boston Marathon, it is a heartwarming view of good and decent people.

The cinematography is breathtaking and the director made the wonderful choice to not have a narrator, referring to allow the people to tell their own stories.

I've noticed many find this to be bad because they see it as somehow patriotic (I guess for some people that is a bad thing). Many also blast it for being a pro-Bush or post 9/11 rally film.

Perhaps they failed to listen to the audio commentary by the filmmaker who points out that most of this was filmed BEFORE 9/11. Indeed he has been working on it for 20 years, so a good portion of it was made during the CLINTON years. Perhaps it's OK if it supports him ?

Nor do they take into account the fact that, from what I've been able to find out on the net, the filmmaker is actually a Democrat who did not support Bush in 2004.

I won't go into the debate over diversity in the film since many have already pointed out that the film is quite diverse.

I think this film taps into the real divide in America today. Most people in the United States love this country, regardless of whether they are liberal or conservative. They may dislike policies or leaders, but they love the country.

A small group simply hates America. To they all is bad, nothing is good, and any optimism or positive thought is wrong.

That angry elite may find this beneath their standards, but for most of us it is a wonderful 90 minutes.