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American Utopia (film)

American Utopia is a 2020 American concert film directed and produced by Spike Lee, from a screenplay by David Byrne. The film is a live recording of a Broadway performance of the show adapted from the touring show that supported the album of the same name. The film features selections from that album, as well as songs from throughout Byrne's career. Byrne performed alongside eleven musicians, all of whom used wireless or portable equipment. Frequent collaborator Annie-B Parson served as choreographer.

"David Byrne's American Utopia" redirects here. For the album, see American Utopia.

American Utopia

  • Spike Lee
  • David Byrne

David Byrne

Adam Gough

David Byrne

HBO (United States)
Universal Pictures (International)[1]

  • September 10, 2020 (2020-09-10) (Toronto)
  • October 17, 2020 (2020-10-17)

105 minutes[2]

United States

English

$275,304[3]

It had its world premiere at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2020. The film received critical acclaim.

– lead vocals, electric and acoustic guitars

David Byrne

Chris Giarmo – dancing, melodica

Tendayi Kuumba – dancing

Karl Mansfield – keyboards, musical director

Angie Swan – electric guitar

Bobby Wooten III – bass

– drums, musical director

Mauro Refosco

Tim Keiper – drums

Gustavo Di Dalva – drums

Jacquelene Acevedo – drums

Daniel Freedman – drums

Stephane San Juan – drums

All provide percussion; all except Byrne provide backing vocals.

"Here" (from )

American Utopia

"I Know Sometimes a Man Is Wrong" (from )

Rei Momo

"Don't Worry About the Government" (from )

Talking Heads: 77

"" (from Muzikizum by X-Press 2)

Lazy

"" (from Speaking in Tongues)

This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)

"" (from Fear of Music)

I Zimbra

"Slippery People" (from Speaking in Tongues)

"I Should Watch TV" (from )

Love This Giant

"Everybody's Coming to My House" (from American Utopia)

"" (from Remain in Light)

Once in a Lifetime

"Glass, Concrete & Stone" (from )

Grown Backwards

"" (from Remain in Light)

Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)

"I Dance Like This" (from American Utopia)

"Bullet" (from American Utopia)

"Every Day Is a Miracle" (from American Utopia)

"" (from Naked)

Blind

"" (from Speaking in Tongues)

Burning Down the House

"" (by Janelle Monáe)

Hell You Talmbout

"One Fine Day" (from )

Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

"" (from Little Creatures)

Road to Nowhere

"Everybody's Coming to My House: Detroit" (End Credits)

Production[edit]

In June 2020, it was announced Spike Lee had directed a filmed version of the Broadway performance American Utopia by David Byrne, with HBO distributing.[4][5]

Release[edit]

The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2020.[6] It screened at the New York Film Festival on October 3, 2020,[7][8] and the BFI London Film Festival on October 14, 2020.[9][10] It was broadcast in the United States and Canada on HBO and made available for streaming through HBO Max (U.S.) and Crave (Canada) on October 17, 2020.[11][12] Universal Pictures distributes the film in all other countries.[1] The film received a limited theatrical release in the United States throughout September 2021.

at IMDb

American Utopia