Every year the Library of Congress picks 25 “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” films for inclusion in their National Film Registry. It’s a way to highlight the importance of preserving the United States’ film heritage. It’s also pretty much the only time you’ll see a short documentary about 38 streets, businesses, and cities named Augusta on the same list as The Matrix.
In addition to The Matrix and The Augustas (that’s the aforemetioned 16-minute film by traveling salesman Scott Nixon, in case you want to look it up), among the films on this year’s National Film Registry list are Breakfast at Tiffany’s, A Christmas Story, A League of Their Own, Dirty Harry, Slacker, The Times of Harvey Milk, and Uncle Tom’s Cabin , a 1914 adaption of Harriet Beecher Stowe‘s novel that is said to be the first feature-length film starring an African-American actor.
Says the Library of Congress’ James M. Billington, “These films are not selected as the best American films of all time, but rather as works of enduring importance to American culture. They reflect who we are as a people and as a nation.”
Of course, the films included might very well be among “the best American films of all time,” too. I mean, A Christmas Story and A League of Their Own. C’mon.
(via: Los Angeles Times)
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