Films that bring previously obscured truths about the political process to the attention of the public, showing for example how offices of public trust are used for private purposes.
THE BITE OF WAR DOGS IS WORSE THAN ITSBARK Based on an article in Rolling Stone, War Dogs explains how millions have been made in the arms trade in Afghanistan and Iraq and elsewhere. When Dick Cheney arranged for no-bid contractor friends to cash in on both wars, there was an outcry. Accordingly, the Defense […]
THE INNOCENTS FOCUSES ON THE GUILTY During the end of 1945, the French Red Cross was sent to Poland to assist in healing the wounds of war for French soldiers who were prisoners of war in German camps. Civilians were supposed to rely on the overburdened Polish Red Cross. However, Russian soldiers raped many Polish
FREE STATE OF JONES REDISCOVERS A FORGOTTEN PAST During the American Civil War, a group of runaway slaves and antislavery Whites in the vicinity of Jones County, Mississippi, decide to fight the local Confederate Army and are able to achieve a small victory. When they ask for assistance from the Union Army, they are turned
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RACE IS ABOUT RACISM AND WINNING Had the film Race been exhibited during 2015, Academy Award nominations would have not shut out African Americans or a plot about them. Directed by Stephen Hopkins, Race presents extensive details about how Cleveland native Jesse Owens (played by Stephan James) won four Gold Medals at the 1936 Olympic
THE GIRL KING HAS MORE PARADOXES THAN THE TITLE Queen Christina of Sweden (played by Malin Buska) arose to the throne on the death of her father Adolf in 1632 when she was 6 years old, but she is now one of only three women buried at the Vatican. Her path is brought to the
THE DANISH GIRL FEATURES THE T IN GLBT Based on a true story, The Danish Girl traces the experience of Einar Wegener (played by Eddie Redmayne), who is portrayed at the beginning of the film as the husband of Gerde Wegener (Alicia Vikander), both artists in Copenhagen during 1926. While he is obviously not a top notch artist,
MEDITERRANEA EXPLAINS WHAT AFRICANS MUST ENDURE TO CROSS TO ITALY Directed by Jonas Carpignano, Mediterranea begins in Burkina Faso. Several men have decided to go to Europe for economic reasons. The focus is on Ayiva (played by Koudous Seihon) and his son Abas (Alassane Sy), who have paid for passage but do not know what curve balls will
SPOTLIGHT SHOWS INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM AT ITS BEST The Boston Globe has a special column called “Spotlight,” written by a team of crack journalists who spend more time developing a story than the rest of the reporters. Yet complaints that Catholic priests sexually abused children as far back as the 1960s were not printed, even when
TRUMBO EXPLAINS WHY THE POLITICAL FILM SOCIETY WAS FORMED In 1947, screenwriter Dalton Trumbo was subpoenaed by the House Un-American Activities Committee, refused to answer that he joined the Communist Party from 1943-1946, was one of the Hollywood Ten held in contempt of Congress, and was imprisoned for a year while at least 500 in
WHY DID THE PHILIPPINES LOSE A WAR WITH THE USA? HENERAL LUNA TELLS WHY In 1898, as Spain was losing a war over Cuba to the United States, the Philippines declared independence from Spain. But Washington paid $20 million to Spain to “buy” the country. A war against the Americans was then fought, with macho General