Danny Wu
Danny Wu | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1996 (age 27–28) Chengdu, China |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Filmmaker |
| Years active | 2019-present |
Danny Wu (born 1996)[1] is a Canadian director and writer. He is best known for directing American: An Odyssey to 1947 which was placed on Jonathan Rosenbaum’s list for "best films of 2022."[2]
Early life
[edit]Danny Wu was born in Chengdu, China, but immigrated to Canada with his family at the age of 7.[3] In high school, Wu dreamed of being a professional basketball player, while he also worked as a magician.[1] During the pandemic, Wu stayed in Chengdu with his family and created a 22-minute short program titled “My Life in China during the Pandemic.” The project was subsequently broadcast by CNN affiliate N1.[3]
Career
[edit]Danny Wu's first film Square One was released in 2019 on Prime Video.[4] In describing Wu's style, critic Josiah Teal for Film threat wrote that “Wu paces the documentary almost like an A24 film…the vibe of tension and release creates a mood much closer to something like The Lobster than a typical celebrity documentary.” [5]
American: An Odyssey to 1947 was Wu's first film to enter the film festival circuit. It features a collection of stories leading to the year 1947, most notably about the politics of Orson Welles.[6] The film screened at the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival in 2023, and was placed on Jonathan Rosenbaum's list for best films of the year.[7][8] In addition it was also screened at the Austin Film Festival, and the It's All True International Documentary Festival.[9][10] In a review by David Walsh for WSWS, he describes that “In a short period of time, he has developed an important understanding of some of the most vexing problems of the mid-20th century.” Walsh claimed the film as evidence that “a new generation of artists, free from the cynicism and many of the prejudices of the past several decades, is emerging.”[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Danny Wu, director of American: An Odyssey to 1947, discusses Orson Welles and political and cultural life in the US in the 1930s and '40s". World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ "My Entry for Roger Koza's 2022 Cinephilia Poll | Jonathan Rosenbaum". jonathanrosenbaum.net. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ a b "Why a Chinese-Canadian filmmaker chose to stay in China - China.org.cn". www.china.org.cn. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ "Square One to be on Amazon Prime in the US and UK". MJVibe. 2020-05-08. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ "Square One | Film Threat". 2020-07-22. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ wellesnet (2022-09-12). "'American' director talks Orson Welles, politics". Wellesnet | Orson Welles Web Resource. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ "25ο Φεστιβάλ Ντοκιμαντέρ Θεσσαλονίκης / Όλα όσα είδαμε". Αυγή (in Greek). 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ American: An Odyssey to 1947, retrieved 2023-04-21
- ^ ""American: An Odyssey to 1947" Profiles Orson Welles at Austin Film Festival". Weekly Wilson - Blog of Author Connie C. Wilson. 2022-11-02. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ "É Tudo Verdade / It's All True - Filme - American: An Odyssey to 1947". etudoverdade.com.br. Retrieved 2023-04-21.