American Passages

Ruth Beckermann
Austria
121
Spanish Premiere
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Synopsis

American Passages is an associative journey through the United States: a disillusioned Iraq veteran, gay adoptive fathers, black judges, white party animals and a pimp at a casino table in Las Vegas. The extreme contrasts of black and white, rich and poor, winners and losers are often as surprising as the meaning of the constitutional right to the pursuit of happiness in these times of crisis.

Festivals

- BAFICI (2012)
- DIAGONALE, Festival of Austrian Film (2012)
- Cinéma du Réel (2011)
- Viennale, Vienna International Film Festival (2011)
- RIDM, Montreal International Documentary Festival (2011)

Biography of the director

Rithy Panh
Ruth Beckermann

She was born in Vienna where she also spent her childhood. After her studies in journalism and history of art in Vienna, Tel Aviv and New York, she got her PhD degree in 1977 at the University of Vienna. She has since contributed as a journalist to several Austrian and Swiss magazines.

In 1978 she (co-)founded the distribution company Filmladen, where she was active for seven years. During this period, Ruth Beckermann started to make films and write books. Since 1985 she has been working as a writer and filmmaker. Her film The Dreamed Ones was selected at many international festivals and won several awards. In 2018, Ruth Beckermann finished her latest film The Waldheim Waltz and won, among other awards, the Glashütte-Original Documentary Award from the Berlin International Film Festival.

Filmography: The Dreamed Ones (2016); The Missing Image (2015); Those Who Go Those Who Stay (2013); Jackson/Marker 4am (2012); American Passages (2011); Mozart Enigma (2006); Zorros Bar Mizwa (2006); Homemad(E) (2001); A Fleeting Passage to the Orient (1999); East of War (1996); Towards Jerusalem (1991); Paper Bridge (1987); Return to Vienna (1984); The Steel Hammer Out There on the Grass (1981); Suddenly, a Streik (1978); Arena Squatted (1977).

Finished

Sessions

May

Friday 17
20:00 h
Filmoteca Española. Cine Doré Sala 2
Thursday 23
18:00 h
Filmoteca Española. Cine Doré Sala 2

Credits

Language
English - Subtitles in spanish and english
Director
Ruth Beckermann
Screenplay
Ruth Beckermann
Cinematography
Lisa Rinzler, Antoine Parouty
Editing
Dieter Pichler
Sound
Matthew Dennis, Atanas Tcholakov
Production
Ruth Beckermann
International sales
Cinephil - Distribution & Co Productions
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