The film that opened TIFF 2020 and then played LFF and various other festivals, David Byrne’s American Utopia, has landed itself a release date for the UK and Ireland. The Spike Lee-directed film will land to download and keep from December 14th.
A first-time collaboration between the Academy Award-winning, cult film director, producer, actor and screenwriter, Spike Lee and rock musician and Talking Headsfrontman David Byrne, the film documents Byrne’s dazzling smash-hit Broadway show based on the album of the same name released in 2018.
The show played at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre in New York City from October 2019 to February 2020, along with a UK city tour from October to November 2018. It was filmed by Lee with 11 camera operators to intimately capture the multi-faceted production. The show raises political and social issues, whilst aiming to bring audiences together with the power of entertainment.
Choreographed by Annie-B Parson, with Tony-nominated Alex Timbers (director of Moulin Rouge!) serving as production consultant, the show finds Byrne performing songs onstage with 11 musicians from around the world. As well as performing selections from Byrne’s American Utopia solo album, the set list includes hits from the Talking Heads’ back catalogue, such as “Once in a Lifetime,” “Burning Down the House,” and tracks by other musicians such as a rendition of Janelle Monáe’s “Hell You Talmbout,” featuring the ensemble calling out the names of black Americans who have been unjustly killed in recent years.
Check out a new trailer below and our review of the film here.
