People Before Profit blog

Must-see documentaries showcased in Toronto

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 05:44:00 +0000

For the first time in its 32-year history, the Toronto International Film Festival screened a film that was simultaneously available for free streaming on the Internet. The 7-minute short film, “Shock Doctrine,” based on Naomi Klein’s bestselling book, is co-directed by Mexico’s acclaimed director Alfonso Cuarón, famous for “Y Tu Mamá También” and “Children of Men.” The powerful short is succinct and to the point in defining capitalism’s shock tactics. Klein makes the point that it isn’t just coincidental that every world crisis is followed by massive political change. The book is still on bestseller lists. See the film free at naomiklein.org.

The Toronto audience was treated to a special visit by former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalind promoting a film about his recent book tour, “Palestine, Peace Not Apartheid.”

“Man From Plains” follows Carter around the country as he confronts challenges to his claim that apartheid exists in Palestine. Homespun interviews and personal stories about his upbringing in Georgia by his African American nanny bring a deeper understanding for a former president who’s gaining more respect after his term in office. The director chosen by Carter is one of America’s most sensitive and politically astute filmmakers, Jonathon Demme, who is also known for his award-winning film “Silence of the Lambs” and probing documentaries about Haiti. This film adds another president to the list of great film subjects.

Klaus Barbie, known as the Butcher of Lyon, France, figures into two fascinating biographies. “My Enemy’s Enemy” covers his life since World War II and makes the point that Barbie’s existence as a Nazi didn’t end with the war. It’s well documented that Nazis were used by the U.S. to fight the emerging Soviet superpower. The chronicling of Barbie’s escape to Bolivia with U.S. assistance, and his ongoing ties with the CIA, reveal his hitherto unknown involvement in many historical events, including Che Guevara’s death. The film is suspenseful and brings to light many new facts about Barbie’ life. The parallels to the current U.S. government’s use of enemies to fight enemies is also clearly stated. Although Barbie eventually was returned to France to stand trial for his crimes against humanity, he was responsible for inflicting extensive damage while on the payroll of the United States.

Probably one of the most complex figures represented in all the films shown this year at Toronto is the enigmatic French-Vietnamese lawyer Jacques Verges. In “Terror’s Advocate,” we examine the seemingly contradictory actions of a revolutionary attorney who defended clients as far-ranging as Pol Pot, Saddam Hussein, Carlos the Jackal and Klaus Barbie. Always an anti-colonialist, his first major client was Djamila Bouhired, a leader of the Algerian resistance immortalized in the classic film “Battle of Algiers.” He went on to marry her upon her release from prison, a release won by his own defense.

Holding the firm position that all those accused, however reprehensible, deserve counsel has put the eloquent Verges on the defensive quite often. Critics claim he avoids the moral realm but loves to challenge the judicial system for all its failings. Verges is considered the founder and main exponent of the “rupture strategy,” where the defense accuses the prosecution of the same offense as the defendant.

The film is an amazing tour of history through the many cases Verges tried. A compelling insider’s view of history’s famous “terrorists,” this well-made film by Barbet Schroeder, who also directed “General Idi Amin Dada” and “Reversal of Fortune,” is a must-see.

“Promise to the Dead: The Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman” is a documentary from the acclaimed American-Chilean writer. A penetrating and emotional examination of the joyous and hopeful times of Salvador Allende’s Popular Unity government, this film allows the viewer to see — through the eyes of Dorfman — the tragic loss caused by the Sept. 11, 1973, military coup. This “other Sept. 11” tragedy is fading from history.

The coup, led by former Chilean dictator Gen. Augusto Pinochet, along with the many other related crimes, is being covered up and forgotten. Many Chileans still avoid talk of those times, but Dorfman offers this informative and heartbreaking memory of exile, and gives expression to the Chilean people’s lifetime longing for democracy.

An intriguing piece of investigative reportage about the mysterious poisoning of a former KGB agent and reporter forms the basis of “Rebellion: The Alexander Litvinenko Case.” Director Andrei Nekrasov’s discoveries puts the blame squarely on the corrupt Putin government in Russia and the Federal Security Service (FSB), and delivers a barrage of accusations against the current state apparatus. Findings show the FSB involvement in the famous 1999 bombings of an apartment building and the use of the Chechen war as a cover-up for political crackdowns. The film also depicts some of the corruption in Russian government. The realistic cinematic style adds a state of urgency and forces the viewer to question official statements emanating from the Kremlin.

Two more documentaries about Iraq are told from fresh perspectives. “Iraq: Heavy Metal in Baghdad” tells of the trials and tribulations of a rock band, probably the only one of its type left in Iraq. And they are determined to perform, somewhere, regardless of the extremely dangerous conditions that currently exist throughout the entire country. They manage to pull off one concert in a rundown hotel with a very small audience — the most determined heavy metal fans in the country.

But the film reveals much more than it appears at first. The musicians, being quite astute observers of the U.S. occupation, show us the tragic decline of their community and the fears and dangers that plague their friends and families. Along with many other Iraqis, they are eventually forced out of their country in order to survive.

The same situation befalls Muthana Mohmed, a 25-year-old Baghdad filmmaker, in the film, “Operation Filmmaker.” A fortunate recipient of an MTV grant, the young Iraqi is offered a dream job on a Prague film set. The good intentions of these Americans gradually become a nightmare for the aspiring young director, and the realities of his homeland, cultural barriers and competitive life in America eventually set in motion an irreversible disaster. The outcome is certainly not what the director of this film had intended, and there are hard lessons learned.

Communists and workers of the world celebrate the Great October Revolution

Sat, 17 Nov 2007 10:48:00 +0000

MOSCOW – Over 20,000 people marched and rallied here Nov. 7 to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Great October Revolution. The date marks the victory by the Russian working class and its peasant allies for political power, sending shockwaves around the world. Commemorative events involving thousands more were held across the country.

The demonstration was held after work hours. Since the counter coup restoring capitalism in 1991, the national holiday on Nov. 7 has been abolished. It is part of the continuing attempt to wipe out memory of the Soviet heritage. To acknowledge the persistent strong feelings for the October Revolution but not openly embrace it, the Moscow city government organized a military parade of veterans on Nov. 4 to commemorate an event during World War II.

The temperature was frigid, but spirits were jubilant as marchers, beginning at Pushkin Square, poured down Tverskaya Street, Moscow’s main artery. The rally took place at Manezh Square, under the watchful eyes of a bust of Karl Marx.

The crowd, a cross section of all ages, included veterans carried red flags, banners and signs blasting Russian President Vladimir Putin and his government’s policies. Also present was a contingent of representatives of 73 communist and workers parties who traveled from Minsk in the Republic of Belarus, where an international meeting was held Nov 3-5. A large delegation also traveled from Italy to participate.

The rally had a campaign atmosphere since federal elections are fast approaching on December 2. The Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) is fielding a slate of candidates headed by General Secretary Gennady Zyuganov, who is opposing Putin. It also includes Nobel Physics Prize winner Zhores Alferov and cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya, the second woman in space. The CPRF is the main opposition party to the Putin government.

In his speech, Zyuganov said, “There was no greater event during the 20th century than the October Revolution and it has affected all of human history.” He recounted the achievements of socialism in the USSR that took a backward country into the 20th century, defeated Hitler fascism and became the first into space while providing free health care, education and low-cost housing for all.

Zyuganov said the capitalist counter coup has brought on untold misery to the working class, resulting in a great gap in wealth, looting of the people’s treasury and public assets by the new domestic capitalist oligarchs and global corporations, and the loss of basic economic and social protections. Zyuganov said the only way out of the mess was a return to socialism and urged the crowd to work hard to get out a big vote Dec. 2

The BBC quoted Arseny Svidersky, an 18-year-old participant as saying, “Some people thought that communism went into the past. We think it is a good idea for the future.”

In addition to the speeches, including greetings from the Communist Parties of Greece and Italy, there was plenty of music and singing. The event ended with a fireworks display.

As part of the celebrations organized by the CPRF a concert was held Nov. 6 in the historic House of Trade Unions, featuring some of Russia’s most famous artists. It opened with the People’s Orchestra playing a famous Russian composition to a film montage of the history of the Soviet Union projected on a giant screen. People openly wept.

Among those giving solidarity greetings were the Cuban ambassador to Russia Jorge Marti, who said the Great October Revolution touched every country and part of the world. He said humanity was at a crossroads and in order to survive, global transformation would have to be guided by the ideals of the revolution.

Also speaking was a representative of the Communist Party of China. He said the “root of the Chinese revolution lies in the October revolution, which introduced Marxism into China. We are taking our own path to socialism, but we will always remain loyal to the ideals of October.”

Savitskaya recounted the story of Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space. She said he came from a poor family in a rural town. “Look what socialism did for him, what he and the scientific community achieved,” she said. “We want that for every child today – a future with free education and health care.”

The program ended with all the performers on stage. A chorus line of Young Pioneers who have experienced a growth in membership in the last year joined them, in a very moving display.

Earlier in the day, Zyuganov and Tatyana Golubeva, general secretary of the Communist Party of Belarus, led the international delegation in a wreath laying ceremony at the Lenin Mausoleum. Flowers were also left at the graves of other revolutionary heroes including Communist Party, USA leaders John Reed, William Foster, Charles Ruthenberg and Bill Haywood.

John Bachtell represented the Communist Party USA at the Minsk meeting of Communist and workers parties and at the anniversary events in Moscow.

EDITORIAL: 1917

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 07:22:00 +0000

John Reed, the great American labor journalist and a founder of the Communist Party USA, was the first to bring this country the news of what had happened in Russia on Nov. 7, 1917. In “Ten Days that Shook the World,” he wrote that the workers, led by Lenin, and carrying the banner of “peace, bread and brotherhood,” had seized power. The “Great October Revolution” (in their calendar, it was October) set itself the task of transforming an oppressive empire into a socialist society.

During the 20th century the seed planted by that revolution grew into a world socialist movement that transformed backward societies, won important economic and social rights for countless millions, assisted countries breaking free of colonialism, defeated fascism, constituted a pressure on the rulers in the capitalist world to make concessions to their workers and democratic movements, and countered the aggressive aims of U.S. imperialism for nearly 50 years.

It is appropriate on this 90th anniversary of that revolution to keep in mind how similar the aspirations of Americans today are to the aspirations of the masses of Russian people who made the 1917 revolution.

Like those revolutionaries, working people and democratic forces in the U.S. seek a future without war, exploitation, inequality and poverty. Americans today, like the revolutionaries in 1917, want the great wealth of this country to be for the benefit of all the people. Americans today, like the Russian revolutionaries then, want a foreign policy based on peace and cooperation. Americans today, like the revolutionaries in 1917, seek an expansion of democracy and social equality.

Our urgent political task today is to defeat the ultra-right, ending its grip on our country and the world. But the problems of war and corporate globalization that we have faced over the past decades underscore the profound significance of the Great October Revolution in opening a new chapter in the struggle for a better world. The future of peace and social justice sought by the revolutionaries then and most Americans now will ultimately be realizable only with socialism. For working people and their allies socialism is not a dream, but a necessity.