The latest documentary that was available for viewing was My Country, My Country. The documentary focuses on Iraq during the election once America's military invaded and attempted to "democratize" Iraq. The filmmaker shows images of how the UN, America, and corporate heads infiltrated the course of the election. The images that the filmmaker captures are vivid and powerful.
It is a very objective piece, neither radical left, nor neo-conservative. Its focus is on an Iraqi doctor, who expects to run for a seat, but he faces conflicts, both political and religious that disable his party from changing the direction of where the country [Iraq] is heading.
It is highly recommended and the director forces you to think about what is really occurring in other places. Such as how Iraq is on the verge of a civil war, and people in America are complaining about "terrorism" that "supposedly" exists.
Originally posted by theelfpat: Does "neither radical left nor neo-conservative" mean "ojective" in today's society? may god help us all..
Left and right are subjective political perspectives. What is in the middle is referred to as Liberalism. Liberalism is an objective view on current political affairs. The New York Times and The New Yorker are two journals that offer objective views on political affairs; neither journal associates itself with the left views or right views when researching a topic. Conversely, since America has two parties, that both consist of Conservative values—The Canadian Progressive Conservative Party is equivalent to the American Democratic Party—this is, if you proceed to ask, equivalent to “Would you prefer Coke or Pepsi?” both are the same beverage. So, in response to your statement, it is a rarity when there is objectivity—or liberalism—expressed in journals, films, or books. My Country, My Country is an objective piece on the Iraq war, the reason being, is it does not express the sorrow of Iraqi deaths, why America chose to invade Iraq, or why America chose to “democratize” Iraq. Nor does this documentary praise the American Military for occupying Iraq, nor does it praise the American government for impairing Saddam Hussein, nor does it praise the Republican Bush Administration for proclaiming War on Iraq, or for tackling America’s “terrorism” conflicts. The filmmaker visualizes the current state of Iraq, how society functions, how America influences Iraq, and how the Iraqi people respond to these influences.
THE THIN BLUE LINE. I saw this on original release in 1988 and once again on video in the early 1990s and caught up with it again in a theatre yesterday and it holds up very well. This is the doc that put Erroll Morris on the map. In fact, it is one of the greatest documentaries ever made and literally got a guy out of prison who had been wrongly accused of killing a cop in Dallas. Unlike most documentaries which are deadly to watch, this one is shot and edited with brio. It also uses a great score by Philip Glass. The doc used some original -- and controversial -- techniques such as reenactments, but this is compelling viewing. Rating: A.
SAY AMEN, SOMEBODY. This was an acclaimed documentary released to strong reviews back in '82. I had seen it on video a number of years ago because Maltin gave it a 3.5 star rating and it popped up in a theatre last night. It is very good and focuses on the world of gospel singers, specifically black gospel singers. It worked very well, but it left me a tad uncomfortable. All that blind belief in religion -- people speaking in tongues -- makes me very, very uncomfortable. Rating: B.
EAST SIDE STORY. I missed this doc. when it had a brief theatrical run -- two weeks maybe -- back in '97. It received good reviews and focuses on musicals made in Soviet bloc countries from the 1930s to the early 1970s. The films in the doc. have camp value as the Commies would only make films that would promote the values of the Communist state so you have musicals extolling the virtues of tractors and pig farming. The doc. was ok, nothing great.
MY ARCHITECT. This doc. came out in '03 and was made by Nathaniel Kahn, son of reknowned architect Lewis Kahn, who was found dead in the men's room of Penn Station in the 1970s. He suffered a heart attack and had etched out his address on his passport so the authorities couldn't notify anyone for several days. It turns out that Kahn had three families. He had a daughter with his wife, who he stayed with, and two kids out wedlock with two different women, neither who knew about the other until much later. Kahn was a real visionary, who didn't have much financial success, losing money on virtually every building he was commissioned to design. He was $500K in debt when he died. It is very conventional doc, with liberal use of film clips, archival photos and talking heads, but it is very well done. Rating: B.
MONDO CANE. This is a doc. made in '63 that documented extreme behavior, much of it from third world countries. What might have seemed "extreme" in '63 is pretty tame today. It was an interesting curio, but nothing more. Reportedly a big hit, it spawned numerous sequels and knock-offs, none of which I have seen. Rating: C.
"Sherman's March" is a terrific American doco from '86 which has serious historical research as it's raison d'etre. However the film ends up being a meditation on the film makers love life while making the film. It's really funny and unique.
Oh, could I feel as I have felt, or be what I have been, Or weep as I could once have wept, o'er many a vanished scene; As springs in deserts found seem sweet, all brackish though they be, So, midst the withered waste of life, those tears would flow to me.
Posts: 2332 | Location: The ever silent spaces of the East | Registered: 12 February 2007
Recently saw "The Weather Underground," which came as a real start for me, since I'd never even heard of these guys. Apparently, they bombed a shit ton of buildings, and yet I never saw them once in any of my history classes. Interesting. Anyways, I thought it was well done and I really enjoyed the video montage when they're showing the scenes of destruction overlapped with text of the various places getting bombed. Destruction, but with morals. I thought it was quite an amazing story, and I highly recommend it to anyone itching for some interesting history.
Posts: 174 | Location: My Tree | Registered: 15 December 2005
