I was having a conversation at a pub one night with some fellow students and mentioned that Josh was writing historical lessons for school kids. While passing along what he'd taught me about the Spanish Civil War, I mentioned the film "Land and Freedom," (which you should all go out right now and rent). Anyway, folks were interested, and C. from Nigeria said he loved political films and so we started talking about them and there are lots of good ones that not everyone had seen. So we're starting a fortnightly political film night at our house! I can't wait. We're starting with Land and Freedom. I will be making fajitas. (Nothing to do with the film, just that I mentioned that local "Mexican" food was not the American "Mexican" food I pined for and that I had learned to make salsa. They promptly committed me to making fajitas at the first film night.)
So far, it's me and Joshua, O. from London, Z. from Turkey and C. from Nigeria. Should make for some great conversation and perspective comparison.
Joshua and I have started a list of good (i.e. not JUST educational) political films. I'm not going to post it here because it's too long, and because my descriptions are probably not totally accurate, but if you'd like to see it, let me know and I'll email it to you once my fellow film society members have added their suggestions. Also, if you have knowledge of amazing films about world politics, let me know and I'll add them if they're not already on it. Maybe I'll figure out what high-tech Internet way to post it here without having it be in my blog text. I'm a little slow about such things.
Posted by at February 4, 2006 03:41 PMI know that it's famous now, what with the "war" and all, but the first movie I rented from my new Netflix account was THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS, and it is phenomenal, not just as a sort of flash forward topical statement, but as a really beautiful and intelligent film (despite the Spaghetti Western sound F/X.) Pay close attention to the press conference near the end. The French commander and an old grizzled reporter have a marvelous exchange about what the roles of the military, the press, and the citizenry are in maintaining an empire.
Or you could just rewatch JUDGEMENT AT NUREMBURG an imagine Cheney in the place of Maximillian Schell, trying to justify murder by citing examples of the atrocities of the judges.
Prosit.
GLK
Posted by: greatlizardking at February 8, 2006 06:43 AMHi GLK! I'm so glad you brought up Battle of Algiers. Images from it were floating around in my head when I made the film list, but I couldn't bring them into focus, for some reason. And now I know what it is and can add it to the list. It is perfect for our little society. Wish you could come watch with us!
Posted by: Appalachia at February 8, 2006 02:29 PM