Youngstown film ‘Human War’ will finally get local premiere

Thomas Henwood briefly lived in Youngstown five years ago while shooting “The Human War,” but the city has never left his memory.

Henwood, of Doylestown, Pa., and Pirooz Kalayeh, of Los Angeles, teamed up to write the script, and direct and produce the movie, which was released in 2011.

“The Human War,” which is adapted from a novella by Youngstown native Noah Cicero, has never been screened in the city — until now. The Little Youngstown Theater, a classic- and art-film series, will show it this Saturday at 9 p.m. at Nove Gatto Gallery, in the Erie Terminal Building on West Commerce Street, downtown.

Tickets are $10 at the door and $8 in advance at littleyoungstown.com.

“The Human War” looks in on the life of a depressed and disaffected Youngstown teenager (played by James Roehl) who is conflicted by his expectations and stifled by the shattered economy. It takes place on the eve of the war in Iraq, which weighs heavily on his mind.

Scenes were shot at Yankee Kitchen restaurant in Vienna, Plaza Donuts in Liberty and the Royal Oaks bar on the East Side, among other places.

The city of Youngstown is a prominent force in the film. Henwood and Pirooz both said they couldn’t imagine filming it anywhere else.

They rented a large Victorian house just off Wick Park on the North Side for the duration of filming to house themselves and the crew, and also use as a set.

That house — in Henwood’s words — became “a Bohemian catalyst for creativity.”

Because “The Human War” was the first feature film project for Henwood and Pirooz, the city will always be special to them. But beyond that, Youngstown — its people and its cityscape — was irreplaceable in reflecting the weary and adrift nature of its protagonist.

Henwood and Pirooz became familiar with Cicero and his 2003 book through a writing school they attended in Colorado.

They considered filming in Brooklyn or Philadelphia, but ultimately decided on Youngstown.

“There is a sort of beauty in the infrastructure [in Youngstown] that was left to founder, and also in the people left there,” said Henwood.

Like the movie’s characters, Henwood and Pirooz also were faced with economic challenges during filming but were undaunted. “It was totally a passion project,” said Henwood.

Pirooz said he wouldn’t have made the film if he couldn’t shoot it in Youngstown. “I loved the beauty of the downtown streets and all the mansions up and down [Fifth Avenue], and the Yankee Kitchen and the Royal Oaks,” he said. “Where were you going to get a place that was so hauntingly beautiful, and with such great people?”

Pirooz recalls driving through the city with Cicero, who was pointing out landmarks of his youth. “In my head, I could already see the main character driving around just like we were,” said Pirooz.

Cicero gave Henwood and Pirooz all the creative license they wanted in making his book into a movie.

The filmmakers focused on three themes: America’s economic hardship as the backdrop to the Iraq War; the juxtaposition between economic decay in Youngstown and the war on television; and how difficult life is in these conditions.

A native of Vienna, Cicero attended Matthews High School and Youngstown State University.

He never thought for a minute that “The Human War” would ever be made into a film, but said he was pleased with how it turned out.

“I like how gloomy the movie is, and the music in it is wonderful,” he said, noting the movie won the 2014 Beloit (Wis.) Film Festival award for best screenplay.

Cicero, 34, has had seven of his books published, including “The Collected Works Volume 1,” “The Insurgent” and his most recent novel, “Go to Work and Do Your Job. Care for Your Children. Pay Your Bills. Obey The Law. Buy Products.”

Neither Cicero, Henwood nor Pirooz will be able to attend Saturday’s screening.

THIS AND THAT

The Canfield Fair has usually revealed its grandstand concert headliners by now, but it’s running late this year. One of the acts will be named any day now, and the other will be announced June 12 due to contractual stipulations.

The fair already has announced that Christian rock band MercyME will perform Sept. 6. Tickets will go on sale in early June. The six-day fair ends on Labor Day.

Jeff Daniels, the Emmy-winning actor, is also a singer-songwriter who will perform at Kent Stage at 8 p.m. Friday in support of his sixth and latest album, “Days Like These.” He’s touring with the Ben Daniels Band. Tickets are $30 and are available at ticketfly.com.