The Thousands

Melbourne Cinémathèque, the ACMI-based rare film club, is about to start its weekly 2012 program with a season dedicated to director Elia Kazan. Kazan was adored and vilified in great measure throughout his lifetime, although watching Martin Scorcese and Kent Jones’ documentary A Letter To Elia – being shown on opening night – it’s not difficult to work out which one they tend towards.

Essentially an hour-long fanboy-fest by Scorcese about Kazan’s films, particularly East Of Eden (showing later in the season alongside Wild River, Splendor In The Grass and A Streetcar Named Desire) – if it were a real letter it would have big pink love hearts doodled in the margin.

Others didn’t feel such affection, though, after the Turkish-born director admitted he was a communist – particularly the actors he dobbed in while he was at it. It seems ridiculous now to accuse Kazan of Un-American activities, especially as America America (also showing on opening night) powerfully promotes the USA as a land of opportunity.

You try watching the scene where Stavros kneels to kiss the ground on arrival at New York, at the risk of being stampeded or getting a mouthful of dog shit, and tell me it was directed by someone who hated Uncle Sam.