One Day Since Yesterday: Peter Bogdanovich & the Lost American Film

One Day Since Yesterday: Peter Bogdanovich & the Lost American Film is a 2014 insightful and in-depth documentary film featuring Wes Anderson, Noah Baumbach, and Anna Thea Bogdanovich. This riveting documentary film is ardently dedicated to the oeuvre of Peter Bogdanovich, one of America's most celebrated yet underappreciated filmmakers. Appropriately titled, the film uncovers the lost treasures and the vast implications of Bogdanovich's influential cinematic creations upon the American film industry and worldwide film culture.

Directed by Bill Teck, the documentary hones in on the arduous journey of Peter Bogdanovich through the world of filmmaking, emphasizing his devoted dedication to cinematic traditions. It also provides a focused examination of Bogdanovich's most personal film, "They All Laughed," which starred Audrey Hepburn and Ben Gazzara, released in 1981. The film was an audacious independent endeavor that did not initially achieve the commercial success it deserved, but has since gained a cult following and is recognized as an iconic New York film.

Wes Anderson, Noah Baumbach, and Anna Thea Bogdanovich bring their rich insights and dynamic perspectives to the documentary in an effort to illuminate and contextualize Bogdanovich's work. Wes Anderson, as a fellow director, brings a nuanced understanding of Bogdanovich's unique themes, stylistic approaches, and technical achievements. Noah Baumbach, a keen historian of film and long-time fan of Bogdanovich’s, adds gravitas and a critical perspective.

Perhaps the most compelling part of the documentary is Anna Thea Bogdanovich, Peter's daughter. More than providing factual details of her father's career, she lays bare the intimate experiences and personal sorrows that colored her father's life and art. As a result, the viewer gets a fuller picture--that of the man behind the director's chair, his unfettered passion for film, and how his many trials shaped his iconic work.

The documentary also touches upon the myriad elements that contributed to Bogdanovich’s rise and fall. Covering his meteoric success in the early 70s with "The Last Picture Show" and "Paper Moon" to the slew of box-office failures and personal misfortunes that followed, the film elucidates the precarious nature of the film industry. It also delves into the intensely personal tragedies that Bogdanovich has faced, including the murder of his girlfriend, the murder of his girlfriend, Dorothy Stratten, and how these events further complicated his already tangled personal and professional life.

Alongside detailed dissections of Bogdanovich's work, the film also serves as a powerful love letter to classic cinema. Regarded as a bastion of the “New Hollywood” movement, Bogdanovich was essentially a film archivist turned auteur. His passion for the classics translates into a film style often seen as an homage to studio-era Hollywood, with contemporary twists. This passion is also evident through the numerous interviews and discussions he has held with Hollywood's Golden Age directors and actors. Clips from these sessions are featured throughout the documentary, offering reminiscences from the likes of Orson Welles, Howard Hawks, and Alfred Hitchcock.

One Day Since Yesterday: Peter Bogdanovich & the Lost American Film clearly exhibits Teck's admiration of the subject, utilizing a blend of archival footage, film excerpts, and insightful interviews. A vivid tapestry of American cinematic history unfolds, revealing Bogdanovich's deft handling of both comedy and drama, his undeniable influence on subsequent generations of filmmakers, and his unwavering determination in the face of adversity.

Despite being about his fascinating journey, the film is never a sycophantic crowd-pleaser. It underscores the stark realities of the film industry, the struggles of maintaining an original and independent voice, and the toll it takes on personal life. The film is not just a behind-the-scenes exploration of a director's life but also a revealing expose of an industry, an art form, and the role of the artist.

Since its release, One Day Since Yesterday: Peter Bogdanovich & the Lost American Film has garnered admiration for its in-depth analysis, compassionate storytelling, and the careful manner in which it unravels this chapter of American cinema. To those acquainted with Bogdanovich's work, it's a welcome reevaluation; to the uninitiated, it's a powerful introduction to one of the American cinema's most intriguing figures. It's an essential watch for any film enthusiast eager to delve into the history and intricacies of the craft.