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My Grandma's American Dream

This documentary film with a run time of 42 minutes 50 seconds weaves the story of the filmmaker's large Italian immigrant family into the fabric of American history and culture from the pre-World War I era through the 1970s. Unique family photos and films, archival footage, and a candid personal narrative help bring to life this adventure undertaken by many millions of young, hopeful people a century ago, who have left some 15 million descendants in America.

  • Anthony DiFranco
    Director
    The Dollar-A-Day Boys, The Garden of Redemption, Happy Ever After, Our Souls to Keep, Scope of Desire, Play Time, Roll Call: A Dance Story
  • Anthony DiFranco
    Writer
    The Dollar-A-Day Boys, The Garden of Redemption, Happy Ever After, Our Souls to Keep, Scope of Desire, Play Time, Roll Call: A Dance Story
  • Anthony DiFranco
    Producer
    The Dollar-A-Day Boys, The Garden of Redemption, Happy Ever After, Our Souls to Keep, Scope of Desire, Play Time, Roll Call: A Dance Story
  • Anthony DiFranco
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    42 minutes 50 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 15, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, Italy
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    35 mm, 16 mm
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Immigration Film Festival
    Washington D.C.
    United States
    Non-local Premiere
  • NewFilmmakers NY
    New York City
    United States
Distribution Information
  • Anthony DiFranco, Parallax Pictures, Inc.
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Anthony DiFranco

Anthony DiFranco’s previous documentary, “The Dollar-A-Day Boys: A Portrait of the Civilian Conservation Corps” won the J. Stuart Blackton Best Documentary Award at the Long Island Film Festival. DiFranco has also written, produced and directed several feature films, and does the writing, editing, and narration for his documentaries. His documentary film "Roll Call: A Dance Story" has won many awards. His documentary on Long Island theater "Play Time" is well known among Long Island actors and directors. His O. Henry Prize-winning story “The Garden of Redemption” became a Paramount Pictures feature movie starring Anthony LaPaglia.

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Director Statement

Though most of my movie projects begin with a romantic impulse of one kind or another, "My Grandma's American Dream" is literally a labor of love, if it is possible to love a whole generation, a collective adventure, and a bygone era.