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Category Archives: Politics

Labor Day (2009)

76m

Director: Glenn Silber

Synopsis (Labor Day): The 2008 Presidential Campaign was an extraordinary moment in U.S. history—not only because of the race and gender of the candidates, but also because of the passions they inspired.

Millions of Americans and hundreds of organizations became actively engaged in the democratic process of choosing the next president. Labor Day, a new feature documentary directed by two-time Oscar Nominee, Glenn Silber, tells the inspiring, largely unknown story of one of them, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the nation’s fastest-growing labor union with more than two million members.

Labor Day is a chronicle of this union’s mobilization to ensure a Democratic victory in 2008. For Labor, the Presidential campaign was mission critical. After eight years of Republican policies, the SEIU felt an incredible sense of urgency to change the direction of the economy and the country.

Website: http://www.labordaythemovie.com

 
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Posted by on April 7, 2012 in Documentary, Politics

 

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La Americana (2008)

65m; 

Director: Nicholas Bruckman, John Mattiuzzi

Synopsis: When nine-year-old Carla suffers a life-threatening accident, her mother, Carmen, must leave her behind and make the dangerous and illegal journey from Bolivia to the U.S., where she hopes to earn enough to save her daughter’s life. Working in New York to support Carla’s medical needs, Carmen struggles in vain to legalize her immigration status, and wrestles with the prospect of never seeing her daughter again. Then, after six years of separation, Congress proposes “amnesty” legislation that could allow Carmen and Carla to be reunited at last… Filmed across three countries in a captivating cinematic narrative, LA AMERICANA is Carmen’s story, and the story of millions of illegal immigrants who must leave their families behind to pursue the elusive American dream. An intimate and powerful story, LA AMERICANA shows how immigration policy affects families on both sides of the border, putting a human face on this timely and controversial issue. Winner of multiple awards at film festivals across the country, La Americana is now being used as the centerpiece for a nationwide campaign to engage and inspire audiences to dialogue about immigrants’ rights and immigration reform.

 

Labor Battles the WTO (1999)

40m; U.S.

Director: Steve Zeltzer

Synopsis: Unions’ participation in the protests against the World Trade Organization in Seattle in 1999.

Contact: View here: http://blip.tv/laborvideo/labor-battles-the-wto-seattle-1999-2642482

 

 

The Labor Movement: Beginnings and Growth in America (1959)

14m; U.S.

Director: Coronet Films

Synopsis: Developments in labor’s organization in the US from 1873 through the merger of the AFL and CIO. The role played by Samuel Gompers, the Knights of Labor and the AFL-CIO are traced.

 

Laila’s Birthday (2008)

71m; Palestine/Tunisia/Netherlands

Director: Rashid Masharawi

Cast: Mohammed BakriAreen Omari and Nour Zoubi

Synopsis (IMDB): Abu Laila used to be a judge, but because the government doesn’t have the means to renew his assignment he is forced to be a taxi driver. On the day his daughter Laila becomes seven years old his wife insists that he’ll be at home early and bring her a present and a cake. Abu Laila’s has nothing else on his mind then completing this mission. But the daily life in Palestine has other plans.

 

Land and Freedom (1995)

109m; U.K.

Director: Ken Loach

Cast: Ian Hart, Rosana Pastor and Icíar Bollaín

Synopsis: A young British communist volunteers to fight in Spain with the POUM militia in the civil war.  He joins an international set of leftists in the fight, however the POUM eventually becomes a target not only of the fascists, but also of the Stalin-backed Spanish republic.  The film is loosely based on George Orwell’s memoir of the Spanish Civil War, Homage to Catalonia.

 

John and the Missus (1987)

100m; Canada

Director: Gordon Pinsent

Cast:  Gordon PinsentJackie Burroughs and Randy Follett

Synopsis (IMDB): A small Canadian town is devasted when a local mine–the town’s only source of income–is closed. One man incurs the wrath of the townsmen when he stubbornly refuses the small amount of settlement money offered by the government

 
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Posted by on March 28, 2012 in Drama, Politics, Working Class

 

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Justice in the Coalfields (1995)

58m; U.S.
Director: Anne Lewis
https://store.appalshop.org/shop/appalshop-films/justice-in-the-coalfields/

Synopsis: This film by labor videographer Anne Lewis documents this militant strike and occupation of the company’s factory. Over 4,000 miners and their families were arrested in this struggle against union busting and the massive use of scabs to break the union and destroy the medical benefits of 1,500 pensioners, widows and disabled miners. Hundreds of state police were involved in escorting the scabs in this effort. The union also faced a $64 million dollar fine from State and Federal judges that was used to weaken the union nationally and was supported by Clinton’s NLRB Chair Bill Gould.

 

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Ken Hechler, In Pursuit of Justice (2008)

120m

Director: Russ Barbour

Synopsis: As a Congressman and WV Secretary of State, professor/author, and environmental activist,Ken Hechler changed the face of West Virginia and national politics starting in 1958 when he was first elected to Congress. Highlights include interviews with many celebrities including Senators George McGovern, Robert Dole, Tom Harkin, James Symington and John Brademas.

 
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Posted by on March 28, 2012 in Documentary, Politics

 

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Kuhle Wampe (1932)

71m; Germany

Director: Slatan Dudow

Synopsis: Fragmented vignettes combine to make a political statement about working class potential in Germany, just before it was blocked by Fascism.

 
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Posted by on March 28, 2012 in Drama, Politics, Working Class