John Gianvito, originally a film programmer from Boston, shifted his focus in 2001, carving a distinct niche in American documentary cinema. Over two decades, Gianvito has produced politically charged films that defy mainstream expectations.
The newly launched DAFilms.com curated collection, «John Gianvito: A People’s History,» spanning 2007 to 2023. In the selection, the 275-minute Vapor Trail (Clark) and Wake (Subic) highlight his investigative works on the repercussions of US military bases in the Philippines, and their environmental and societal impacts. Her Socialist Smile offers an alternative biographical view on Helen Keller, emphasising her political beliefs. The anthology Far From Afghanistan critically examines the Afghan war, while two recent shorts focus on the Ukraine conflict and the global tragedy of COVID-19.
Culminating this selection is Profit Motive and the Whispering Wind, Gianvito’s adaptation of Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States, recognised as a landmark in political cinema of the last twenty years. This retrospective serves as both an overview of Gianvito’s contributions and a reflection on American political landscapes.
John Gianvito: A People’s History
- Profit Motive and the Whispering Wind (2007)
- Far From Afghanistan (2012)
- Fugue (2022)
- Her Socialist Smile (2020)
- The Grave’s Sky (2023)
- Vapor Trial (Clark) (2010)
- Wake (Subic) (2015)
