I WANT TO DESTROY AMERICA the movie
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I WANT TO DESTROY AMERICA--a film by Peter I. Chang ....
Male
63 years old
LOS ANGELES,
United States
Last Login: 10/8/2009
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I WANT TO DESTROY AMERICA the movie's Interests
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| General | | | Movies |
I WANT TO DESTROY AMERICA
Directed by Peter I. Chang
Produced by Mitch Cullin
Available on DVD at www.amazon.com
Barnes&Noble
video.bn.com
NETFLIX
| | Books | www.redroom.com/author/mitch-cullin
www.sweetdreamspress.com
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I WANT TO DESTROY AMERICA the movie's Details
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| Status: | Single | | Zodiac Sign: | Leo |
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SYNOPSIS
I WANT TO DESTROY AMERICA is a touching documentary about the singular career of Hisao Shinagawa, a Japanese street musician who has refused to give up on his elusive dream of success and stardom, regardless of personal cost and the solitary reality of his life. For over 40 years, he has cast himself as the Japanese Bob Dylan. Moving from Tokyo to America in 1974, following in the footsteps of his hero Woody Guthrie, he befriended Johnny Cash and Townes Van Zandt after hitchhiking to Nashville. Now at 60, he plays his music on the streets of Los Angeles while living in near poverty, still hoping to find an audience in a manner that is admirable, bittersweet, and, ultimately, heartbreaking.
FILM REVIEWS
"With the skillful use of archival footage, collage, and Hisao's own music to address concerns of mortality, memory, and loss, this touching examination of an aging man taking stock of his past is handled deftly as Hisao's life moves from the atomic cityscape of post-World War II Hiroshima to the modern streets of Los Angeles.
—Barnes & Noble Editorial Review
"From the atomic-bomb-mangled cityscape of post-World War II Hiroshima, to the modern street markets of Los Angeles, the story of this self-proclaimed “Japanese Bob Dylan” is an engaging exploration of one man’s desire to make peace with his past while struggling to cope with his uncertain future." —The New Mexican (Rob DeWalt)
"(An) Interesting portrait of an outsider artist who has lead an amazing life. Hisao Shinagawa is strange, passionate, and one of those people who lives life on his own offbeat terms." —DVD Talk (John Wallis)
"Though Shinagawa would befriend the likes of Johnny Cash and Townes Van Zandt after hitchhiking to Nashville, his journey ultimately led him to the unforgiving streets of Los Angeles. There, Shinagawa would work tirelessly to find an audience who would truly appreciate his powerful but polarizing style of music." —All Movie Guide (Jason Buchanan)
"I Want To Destroy America isn't as incendiary as the title, but it's a fascinating trip anyhow. This documentary about Japanese cult musician Hisao Shinagawa is a bizarre, inspiring and disturbing trip. Essentially struggling in obscurity for four decades, Shinagawa is a classic example of the dream that won't die -- or someone completely deluded to a point of self-destruction. It's clear that his era has passed, that his window has closed and that he himself is pretty well past anything that might have resembled a prime. But this glimpse into [Shinagawa's] psyche and the life that brought him to where he is now is remarkable." —DigiGods
This documentary, which was filmed during Shinagawa's 60th year on the planet, tells his moving tale, which has seen him doggedly clinging to his dreams of success despite failing to make inroads in the music industry."
—moviereviewr.com
Hisao Shinagawa and his Atomic Music
Blessed are the filmmakers who find tell us important stories of those on the margins of our world and culture. I Want to Destroy America: The Atomic Music of Hisao Shinagawa is not only cool because it has a two part with a colon title, but because it is one of the most intimate and interesting documentaries I have seen in a long time. Peter I. Chang's film is no Werner Herzog styled documentary featuring filmmaker and crew, nor is it puckered with critics doing sound bytes.
This film is and is about Shinagawa. He tells his life story. Born in Hiroshima shortly before the bomb was dropped. His family moved to Tokyo when he was young. Was there as a teenager when Rock 'n Roll hit, but it was the folk music of the late fifties and early sixties that caught his complete consciousness. The film shows how Shinagawa had many musical adventures crossing genre, but he is mostly noted, it seems as being called a Japanese Bob Dylan.
He came to the US as still another stumblebum musician lover of folk stumblebum going Greyhound and hitching to many US points, including, obviously Nashville. In Nashville he lived out of Jack Clement Studios and he recounts some great stories of encounters with Townes Van Zandt, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Johnny Cash. Met up with Jackson Browne and the CSN bunch at one point but more notably David Byrne sometime later.
Byrne totally gets Shinawaga. He turns him on to new wave pop and world music. The latter eventually lead to Shinawaga becoming the world beat DJ at Club Lingerie. I kind of vaguely, vaguely remember Shinagawa's MTV Basement Tape winning video Happy Weirdo, a strange bright colored blue screen extravaganza with the everpresent 1980s oversymphed electornic keyboards.
Peter Ivers was a fringe New Wave Punk supporter who had a late night television show and got murdered by a claw hammer. There is an absolutely incendiary rant against Reagan consumerism and conservatism that feels a little bit like probable cause for some psychotic. Hisao was part of the Ivers' posse for a time before his death.
After Ivers, Shimagawa did a couple of spikey New Wave albums for big labels, two of them, including More Money, More War. Then apparently he gave up music except DJing for flower arranging and then decided to be true to himself and return as a street musician playing much at the Pasadena and Hollywood Farmer's Market, with a lifestyle that has freedom, but as he says in the film, it was a freedom that cost him.
There is this really raw naked emotional section (maybe sake fueled?) in the film that still shows that Hisao in full sweaty rant.
My Dream is bigger than life. I gotta destroy America, the US system, they put the bomb...son of rising son GodZilla Son of nuclear waste I am son of Hiroshima bomb.
This film encaptures a very unique and interesting personality. Others have noticed him as well.
—Well-Executed Buffet (Robert L. Hughes)
Available wherever DVDs are sold
~~~FILM SCREENINGS~~~
7th Annual Santa Fe Film Festival
Official Selection
December 8th & 9th, 2006 @ Tipton Hall
Premiered at Atlanta Underground Film Festival
August 23, 2006 @ Cinefest
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