“American Utopia,” a filmed version of David Byrne’s hit Broadway show, will be the opening night presentation of the 45th Toronto International Film Festival.
This edition of the Canadian Annual Film Lovers Meeting is unlike any of the previous 44 iterations. Due to the coronavirus, TIFF will be a mix of physical and virtual events and many studies have privately said that they do not expect to have such a large presence due to the difficulty of traveling during the pandemic.
“American Utopia” was a hot ticket when it hit Broadway in the fall of 2019 and played for sold-out crowds until February 2020. Spike Lee filmed the production during his performance at the Hudson Theater and the concert film will air on HBO. this autumn. It will be screened in Toronto on September 10, the same day it premieres on the cable channel. The TIFF selection continues a hot streak for Lee, who released the acclaimed Netflix drama “Da 5 Bloods” over the summer and recently won an Oscar for co-writing “BlacKkKlansman” from 2018.
The concert consists of performances of songs from Byrne’s 2018 solo album of the same name, as well as works from his Talking Heads years such as “Once in a Lifetime” and “Burning Down the House.” Byrne also covered Janelle Monáe’s “Hell You Talmbout”, a protest song about police brutality that couldn’t feel more timely. Byrne sings, plays instruments, and dances alongside a group of 11 people, all while performing a high-energy choreography of Annie-B Parson. It is good that Byrne, 68, is an avid cyclist.
“This joyous film takes the audience on a musical journey about openness, optimism, and faith in humanity,” said Joana Vicente, executive director and co-director of TIFF, in a statement. “This is especially moving at a time of great uncertainty around the world. We can’t wait to share the excitement of Opening Night with the public. “
“Spike Lee has somehow always been exactly his time and ahead of his time,” said Cameron Bailey, artistic director and co-director of TIFF, in a statement. With David Bryne’s ‘American Utopia’, he brings Byrne’s classic songs and lively stage to the screen just when we need it. Spike’s latest union is a call to connect with each other, to protest injustice and, above all, to celebrate life. “
