Alexander Horwath's 'Henry Fonda for President' Explores US History Through Film

Alexander Horwath's documentary 'Henry Fonda for President,' premiered at the 2024 Berlinale, is now airing on television. The three-hour film uses Henry Fonda's life and career as a lens to examine American history, from colonial times to the present. Horwath, director of the Viennale and the Austrian Film Museum, argues that Fonda was an 'auteur' actor whose roles reflect broader societal shifts. The film includes clips from over 30 movies, such as 'The Grapes of Wrath,' 'Once Upon a Time in the West,' and 'My Name Is Nobody.' It also explores Fonda's family, including his children Jane and Peter Fonda, who became counterculture icons. Horwath draws parallels between historical figures like Andrew Jackson and contemporary politics, including Donald Trump. The title comes from a 1970s 'Maude' episode where the character imagines Fonda as president. Horwath emphasizes the importance of imagination and 'dreamlife' in understanding society, criticizing the Berlinale's focus on political branding over artistic dreaming.