Film Lens
I Build the Tower focuses on the life of Sabato Rodia, an Italian immigrant who created the Watts Towers in South Los Angeles. The documentary is structured around audio interviews of Rodia recorded in the early 1960s, where he shares his personal story of overcoming alcoholism and despair to build something significant. The narrative is enriched by recent interviews with relatives, neighbors, and witnesses, including artist John Outterbridge and historian Mike Davis, providing a comprehensive view of Rodia's impact on the community and the artistic significance of the towers.
Directed by Edward Landler and Brad Byer, the film features a musical score that combines opera arias by Giuseppe Verdi, which Rodia loved, with original jazz compositions. The filmmakers also included a hip-hop song featuring Rodia's voice. The documentary was completed in 2006 and was presented at an international conference in Genoa, Italy, in 2009, emphasizing the global recognition of Rodia's work and its cultural significance.
Why Watch
- •Meet Sabato Rodia, creator of the Watts Towers.
- •See Buckminster Fuller's last interview before his death.
- •Find out how Rodia overcame alcoholism to build his towers.
Did You Know
•The film includes the last recorded interview with Buckminster Fuller from 1983.
•I Build the Tower was completed in 2006 after years of production.
•The documentary features a hip-hop song that uses Rodia's own voice as lead vocal.
•The film's duration is 124 minutes.
Perfect For
Art enthusiastsDocumentary fansHistory buffs