87m; U.S.
Director: Phil Donahue, Ellen Spiro
Synopsis (IMDB): The story of an injured American veteran returning home from the war Iraq is set against the backdrop of a critical indictment of the government’s handling of the U.S.-led invasion.
Category Archives: War
Reds (1981)
194m; U.S.
Director: Warren Beatty
Cast: Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Edward Hermann, Jerzy Kosinski, Maureen Stapelton, Gene Hackman
Synopsis: Reds is the epic biography of early 20th century U.S. communist author and activist Jack Reed and his stormy off-again, on-again love affair with free-thinker Louise Bryant. The film covers some of Reed’s time in the United States (including relationships with the IWW and the Socialist Party) and their time together in Russia during the Bolshevik revolution which led Reed to write the book Ten Days that Shook the World. The film also covers attempts to build a communist party in the U.S., the post-World War I “Red Scare” and the early years of the U.S.S.R. Maureen Stapelton won an Oscar for her portrayal of Emma Goldman and Beatty won for Best Director. Interspersed throughout the film are interviews with many of the people who knew Reed and Bryant. Long but highly recommended.
Click here to read Jon Garlock’s introduction to Reds at the Rochester (NY) Labor Film Series.
Trailer
The Russian Revolution Montage
John Reed’s Speech on Freedom and Revolution
The Wind that Shakes the Barley (2006)
127m; U.K.
Director: Ken Loach
Cast: Cillian Murphy, Padraic Delaney and Liam Cunningham
Synopsis (IMDB): Ireland, 1920. Damien and Teddy are brothers. But while the latter is already the leader of a guerrilla squad fighting for the independence of his motherland, Damien, a medical graduate of University College, would rather further his training at the London hospital where he has found a place. However, shortly before his departure, he happens to witness atrocities committed by the ferocious Black and Tans and finally decides to join the resistance group led by Teddy. The two brothers fight side by side until a truce is signed. But peace is short-lived and when one faction of the freedom-fighters accepts a treaty with the British that is regarded as unfair by the other faction, a civil war ensues, pitting Irishmen against Irishmen, brothers against brothers, Teddy against Damien.
Trailer
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