All American High facts for kids

All American High is a 1987 documentary film. It was directed by Keva Rosenfeld. The film shows what life was like for the senior class of 1984. This was at Torrance High School in Los Angeles County, California.

The story is told by "Rikki" Rauhala. She was a student from Finland. The film shares her view of American high school culture in the 1980s. It shows what it was like for a foreign student.

This movie was made without a big studio. It got extra money from a grant. This grant came from the American Film Institute (AFI) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The film was chosen to compete at the 1987 Sundance Film Festival. It was first shown on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

About All American High

All American High is a documentary. It looks at the lives of teenagers. The film focuses on students in their final year of high school. It gives viewers a peek into their daily routines.

The movie explores friendships, school events, and future dreams. It shows what it was like to grow up in the 1980s. The film helps us understand that time period.

The View of an Exchange Student

The film's narrator is "Rikki" Rauhala. She is an exchange student from Finland. An exchange student lives in a foreign country. They attend school there for a period of time.

Rikki's perspective is very important. She sees American high school life with fresh eyes. Her observations help us understand the culture better. She points out things that might seem normal to American students.

Film Production and Recognition

All American High was made independently. This means it was not funded by a large movie studio. It received a special grant. This grant helped pay for the film's creation.

The film was recognized for its quality. It competed for a major award. This was at the 1987 Sundance Film Festival. This festival is very famous for independent films. The movie was also shown on PBS. PBS is a public television network in the United States.

All American High Revisited

A second documentary was made about the same students. It is called All American High Revisited. Keva Rosenfeld also directed this film. It was released in 2015.

This newer film combines parts of the original movie. It also adds new interviews. The original students are now adults. They talk about their high school years. They share how they grew up. They also discuss the different paths their lives took.

Awards and Film Festivals

All American High received special recognition. It was nominated for awards. It was also shown at many film festivals.

Nominations and Awards

• Sundance Film Festival, 1987: The film was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. This is a top award for documentaries.
• International Documentary Association, 1986: It received the “Distinguished Documentary Achievement Award.”

Festival Showings

The film was shown at many important festivals. These showings helped more people see the movie.

• London Film Festival
• Hong Kong International Film Festival, 1987
• Jerusalem Film Festival, 1987
• San Francisco International Film Festival, 1987
• New Directors/New Films Festival, Film Society of Lincoln Center: Shown at NY Museum of Modern Art
• Chicago International Film Festival, 1986: Nominated for the Gold Hugo Award for Documentary.
• Sundance Film Festival, 1987: Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary.