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

## Cast

All provide percussion; all except Byrne provide backing vocals.
* David Byrne – lead vocals, electric and acoustic guitars
* Chris Giarmo – dancing, melodica
* Tendayi Kuumba – dancing
* Karl Mansfield – keyboards, musical director
* Angie Swan – electric guitar
* Bobby Wooten III – bass
* Mauro Refosco – drums, musical director
* Tim Keiper – drums
* Gustavo Di Dalva – drums
* Jacquelene Acevedo – drums
* Daniel Freedman – drums
* Stephane San Juan – drums

## Songs

* "Here" (from American Utopia)
* "I Know Sometimes a Man Is Wrong" (from Rei Momo)
* "Don't Worry About the Government" (from Talking Heads: 77)
* "Lazy" (from Muzikizum by X-Press 2)
* "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)" (from Speaking in Tongues)
* "I Zimbra" (from Fear of Music)
* "Slippery People" (from Speaking in Tongues)
* "I Should Watch TV" (from Love This Giant)
* "Everybody's Coming to My House" (from American Utopia)
* "Once in a Lifetime" (from Remain in Light)
* "Glass, Concrete & Stone" (from Grown Backwards)
* "Toe Jam" (from I Think We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat by The Brighton Port Authority)
* "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)" (from Remain in Light)
* "I Dance Like This" (from American Utopia)
* "Bullet" (from American Utopia)
* "Every Day Is a Miracle" (from American Utopia)
* "Blind" (from Naked)
* "Burning Down the House" (from Speaking in Tongues)
* "Hell You Talmbout" (by Janelle Monáe)
* "One Fine Day" (from Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
* "Road to Nowhere" (from Little Creatures)
* "Everybody's Coming to My House: Detroit" (end credits, sung by the Detroit School of Arts Vocal Jazz choir)

## Production

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.
Cinematographers Ellen Kuras and Declan Quinn utilized Sony Venice digital cameras to capture the performance.

## Release

The film had its world premiere at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2020. It screened at the New York Film Festival on October 3, 2020, and the BFI London Film Festival on October 14, 2020. 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. Universal Pictures distributed the film in all other countries. The film received a limited theatrical release in the United States throughout September 2021.

## Reception

American Utopia received critical acclaim. It holds a 98% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 135 reviews, with an average of 8.6/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Helmed in elegant and exhilarating style by Spike Lee, David Byrne's American Utopia is a concert film that doubles as a joyously cathartic celebration." On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 92 out of 100, based on 28 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".
Erik Adams of The A.V. Club devotes a lengthy review to American Utopia as "the right movie for 2020", noting how Byrne balances hope in a tumultuous world, writing, "The key to American Utopia's resonance isn’t so much one of joy versus despair as it is connection versus isolation".

### Accolades

| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | December 21, 2020 | Best Documentary Film | David Byrne and Spike Lee | Nominated |
| Florida Film Critics Circle Awards | December 21, 2020 | Best Documentary Film | American Utopia | Nominated |
| San Diego Film Critics Society Awards | January 11, 2021 | Best Use of Music | American Utopia | Runner-up |
| Toronto Film Critics Association Awards | February 7, 2021 | Allan King Documentary Award | Spike Lee | Runner-up |
| Grammy Awards | March 14, 2021 | Best Musical Theater Album | American Utopia on Broadway | Nominated |
| Directors Guild of America Award | April 10, 2021 | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials | Spike Lee | Nominated |
| American Cinema Editors Eddie Awards | April 17, 2021 | Best Edited Variety Talk/Sketch Show or Special | Adam Gough | Won |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | September 19, 2021 | Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) | Jeff Skoll, David Linde, Diane Weyermann, Len Blavatnik, David Bither, Charlie Cohen, Kurt Deutsch, Bill Pohlad, Christa Zofcin Workman, Jon Kamen, Dave Sirulnick, Meredith Bennett, Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Patrick Catullo, Sue Naegle, Alec Sash, David Byrne and Spike Lee | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | September 11 and 12, 2021 | Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special | Spike Lee | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | September 11 and 12, 2021 | Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Special | Rob Sinclair and Brian Spett | Won |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | September 11 and 12, 2021 | Outstanding Music Direction | Karl Mansfield | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | September 11 and 12, 2021 | Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special | Paul Hsu, Pete Keppler and Michael Lonsdale | Won |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | September 11 and 12, 2021 | Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Special | Peter Agliata, Kerwin DeVonish, Tim Ives, Ellen Kuras, Sam Levy, Charles Libin, Declan Quinn, Yousheng Tang, Gregor Tavenner and David Waterston | Nominated |
| Tony Awards | September 26, 2021 | Special Tony Award | American Utopia | Won |
| Grammy Awards | January 31, 2022 | Best Music Film | American Utopia | Nominated |