Anytown, USA (film)

Anytown, USA
Anytown, USA
Directed by	Kristian Fraga
Produced by	Michael Bridenstine; Juan Dominguez; John L. Sikes
Starring	Steve Lonegan; Fred Pesce; Dave Musikant; Doug Friedline; Bill Palatucci
Cinematography	Jonathan Wolff
Edited by	Robert Greene; Sandy Patch
Music by	Robert Miller
Production; companies	XMark Monkey; 4th Row Films; Sirk Productions
Distributed by	Film Movement
Release date	December 9, 2005;
Running time	93 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Anytown, USA is a 2005 documentary film produced by director Kristian Fraga on the mayoral race in Bogota, New Jersey. The mayoral race was among Republican Steve Lonegan, Democrat Fred Pesce and independent Dave Musikant.^[1]^[2]

The film is described as a candid documentary on a small town that "serves as a perfect backdrop which provides a compromising look at our nation's political climate and proves that all politics is truly local".^[3]

It was screened at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival on April 9, 2005, where it won the award for Best Documentary.

Synopsis

In August 2003, cuts to funding by the Bogota Borough Council threaten the Bogota High School football team, enraging many residents. With a mayoral election ahead, the stage is set for a close election between the incumbent, Republican Steve Lonegan, and former Borough Council Democrat Fred Pesce. Then, in late September, former high school athlete Dave Musikant announces he will run for mayor as a write-in candidate. The three-way race garners national attention, particularly because both Lonegan and Musikant are legally blind. As election day draws near, Musikant scores a coup by hiring Doug Friedline, Jesse Ventura's former campaign manager. In the week before election day, a rumor develops that Pesce is ill and will drop out of the race. However, Pesce continues to the end.

As election day dawns, poor weather worries Lonegan, who fears low turnout may cause him to lose. However, Lonegan wins with 1,097 votes, while Pesce has 728, and Musikant has 200. The Republicans also win the City Council. That January, Lonegan is inaugurated as Mayor for his third term. The football team goes on to the state championship, but loses in that game. Pesce also announces his retirement from politics. In September 2004, Musikant succumbs to his eight-year battle with brain cancer. Lonegan goes on to run for the Republican nomination for governor that year, after Jim McGreevey's resignation, but loses the primary.

Results

Bogota, New Jersey 2003 mayoral election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Steve Lonegan (incumbent)	1,097	54.2
	Democratic	Fred Pesce	728	36.0
	Write-in	Dave Musikant	200	9.9
Total votes			2,225	100
Turnout			2025	55.6
	Republican hold

References

^ ""A Celebration of American Democracy": Kristian Fraga's Anytown, USA". Slant Magazine. 8 November 2006.
^ Benson, Josh (October 4, 2005). "Winning a Scrappy Race, and a Bit of the Limelight, Too". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
^ "Anytown, USA". Archived from the original on 2006-07-16. Retrieved 2005-05-26.

External links

Official Site
Anytown, USA at IMDb

[1] ""A Celebration of American Democracy": Kristian Fraga's Anytown, USA". Slant Magazine. 8 November 2006.

[2] Benson, Josh (October 4, 2005). "Winning a Scrappy Race, and a Bit of the Limelight, Too". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.

[3] "Anytown, USA". Archived from the original on 2006-07-16. Retrieved 2005-05-26.

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