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The Story of America in 12 Films

Marc Lapadula / Yale University

The Story of America in Film reflects the multi-faceted narrative of a diverse nation in all its complexity. By utilizing six major themes in the categories listed below, bold filmmakers from a range of artistic backgrounds and political, social, and cultural eras form a genuine composite sketch of American Life — framing where we’ve been, where we are now, and where we might be headed in the future.


1. The American Dream – films: The Godfather (I&II) & West Side Story
2. Coming of Age – films: The Graduate & Lady Bird
3. Social Justice – films: To Kill A Mockingbird & Do The Right Thing
4. War – films: – Saving Private Ryan & The Best Years Of Our Lives
5. On the Road – films: – Rain Man & Thelma And Louise
6. The Underdog – films: – Hoosiers & Rocky

Marc Lapadula

Yale University

Marc Lapadula is a Senior Lecturer in the Film Studies Program at Yale University. He is a playwright, screenwriter and an award-winning film producer. In addition to Yale, Marc has taught at Columbia University’s Graduate Film School, created the screenwriting programs at both The University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins where he won Outstanding Teaching awards and has lectured on film, playwriting and conducted highly-acclaimed screenwriting seminars all across the country at notable venues like The National Press Club, The Smithsonian Institution, The Commonwealth Club and The New York Historical Society.

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