Face of a Nation

2014· Documentary

FACE OF A NATION is a documentary focusing on the transformative history of architecture at World's Fairs, a venue where the United States was the inspiring design leader during the Cold War, and a position it lost when the Cold War ended. Benjamin Forgey in the Washington Post called our presence at the Seville World Expo in 1992 "a World's Fair fiasco." Things quickly spiraled downward when Roger Cohen, in the New York Times said we "snubbed the party" in Hanover 2000. And we hit bottom at the Shanghai World Expo in 2010. The story is told through Mina Chow's point of view as we follow the developments through her eyes and voice as a knowledgeable and passionate character. Personal accounts by former United States Information Agency (USIA) Director of Design Jack Masey, architects Barton Myers FAIA and Frank Gehry FAIA give this film a unique perspective concerning the role visionary architecture has played in the history of America's World's Fairs presence. A story of the erosion of our American image is an allegory of an ailing country captured in the controversy of our USA Pavilion designs since the end of the Cold War. FACE OF A NATION is an emotional and provocative story that raises public awareness of the tremendous role design plays in shaping cultural identity and visions for the future. This will generate much-needed discussion about what this role should be for the future and help to clarify the issues prior to the Milan World's Fair in 2015.

Cast: Frank O. Gehry, Barton Myers, Barton Myers, Barry Howard

Director: Mina Chow