ANN ARBOR—Perhaps more than any modern filmmaker, John Sayles personifies American individualism. From his 1979 directorial debut “Return of the Secaucus 7″ to his forthcoming release “Go for Sisters,” he has thrived outside the Hollywood mainstream, using his films to explore such complex, nuanced themes as race, class and gender identity.
Now, thanks to a gift to the University of Michigan Library, documents, images and props illuminating Sayles’ vast body of work will be made available to researchers in the John Sayles Archive at the Special Collections Library.
The gift was announced Tuesday at U-M President Mary Sue Coleman’s annual Leadership Breakfast where she highlights the university’s accomplishments and announces key initiatives going forward.
“The John Sayles Archive is a scholarly treasure trove for students, faculty and anyone interested in exploring the inner workings of this artist,” Coleman said.
The Sayles acquisition complements U-M collections documenting the careers of American filmmakers Orson Welles and Robert Altman. With the Sayles collection, U-M is a major destination for research on the American maverick filmmaker.
“These are three independent thinkers and artists, not traditional filmmakers consistently supported by the studios,” said Philip Hallman, the film studies librarian at the U-M Library. “They are all American mavericks with much to teach us not only about film but about our shared heritage, culture and society.”
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Maverick filmmaker's collection joins Orson Welles and Robert Altman archives,
