(For a PDF version of this list, click here)
Social Action movie night started off at Toronto First Unitarian Church and quickly spread to the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa. We’ve been having a lot of fun and some great discussions. We find it works well with a pot luck meal. Try it. Following are some of the movies we have either shown or are thinking of seeing.
Permission To Show Movies
Most social action films are not included in any standard license agreement for showing popular films to congregations. These films cost a lot of money to produce and are made for love of the issue, not for profit. Most producers never get their money back. I take the following approach: I always write to the producer and tell them I am showing the film for free to a church audience and ask for permission. When I can, I buy the DVD — especially if it is in the $20 range. If the producer asks for more money (in the $50 to $250 range) for a license fee, I negotiate. Will they let me have a copy of the DVD if every time I show the film I take a voluntary collection. Most have agreed to this arrangement. Some films are available to be live streamed for free if you have the internet bandwidth and megabites to do that. It is always worth it to look around. When you search on the internet the website doesn’t always tell you how long the movie is. You can usually find that information form any link to IMDb.
First Nations
The Water of Life Series , a collaboration betweenG. Scott McLeod, artist and film director and celebrated storyteller Mike Burns. They use history, mythology, and story to bring the story of a people alive. This series is focused on the history and stories of the Mohawk people in the Montreal area and their interactions as new immigrant populations came to Montreal. Short films include The Abernaki, The Saga of Murdo McLeod, The Irishman, and the French Canadian. Recommended by Lakeshore Unitarian Fellowship.
Empire of Dirt (99 minutes, 2013) Three generations of women take centre stage as family drama and past mistakes are unearthed. Lena is a 28-year-old single mother trying to make ends meet and determined not to let her rebellious 13-year-old daughter, Peeka, follow in her footsteps. When Peeka gets involved in a bad scene, and with social services on her tail, Lena returns to her rural hometown and seeks shelter from her estranged mother, Minnie. Personal demons return to haunt them and threaten to tear the tenuous family bonds apart.
For the Next Seven Generations: In 2004, thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers from all four corners, moved by their concern for our planet, came together at a historic gathering, where they decided to form an alliance: The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers. This is their story. Facing a world in crisis, they share with us their visions of healing and a call for change.
The Invisible Nation: 2007 – 93 minutes The Algonquin once lived in harmony with the vast territory they occupied. This balance was upset when the Europeans arrived in the 16th century. Gradually, their traditions were undermined and their natural resources plundered. Today, barely 9,000 Algonquin are left. They live in about 10 communities, often enduring abject poverty and human rights abuses. These Aboriginal people are suffering the threat to their very existence in silence.
As Long as the Rivers Flow: Story of the Grassy Narrows Blockade – 53 mins. 2003 – Story of youth in the Grassy Narrows community who led their community into the longest blockade in Canadian history by laying down in front of logging trucks to stop the clear cutting on their territory. It looks at the issue of clear cutting from the point of view of those living on the land. Copies can be ordered from FreeGrassy.org. Proceeds support the people of Grassy Narrows.
No Turning Back (NFB 1996 – 48 minutes) Made to follow up the work of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. For two-and-a-half years, Edmonton director, Greg Coyes, worked with teams of Native filmmakers, following the Commission on its journey from coast to coast. The video weaves the passionate and articulate voices of Indian, Inuit, and Métis people with the history of Canada’s relationship with its First Nations peoples. In this video, Canadian Aboriginal voices are heard collectively, providing a valuable tool for informing both non-Native and Native people about their living conditions and their history.
Israel and Palestine
A good resource on this topic is the Top 10 page.
5 Broken Cameras (94 minutes): An extraordinary work of both cinematic and political activism, 5 Broken Cameras is a deeply personal, first-hand account of non-violent resistance in Bil’in, a West Bank village threatened by encroaching Israeli settlements. Structured around the violent destruction of each one of Burnat’s cameras, the filmmakers’ collaboration follows one family’s perspective on five years of village turmoil. Burnat watches from behind the lens as olive trees are bulldozed, protests intensify, and lives are lost. “I feel like the camera protects me,” he says, “but it’s an illusion.” Sensational Reviews.
Occupation 101 – Voices of the Silenced Majority: A thought-provoking and powerful documentary film on the current and historical root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Unlike any other film ever produced on the conflict, Occupation 101 presents a comprehensive analysis of the facts and hidden truths surrounding the never-ending controversy. It dispels many of its long-perceived myths and misconceptions. The film details life under Israeli military rule, the role of the United States in the conflict, and the major obstacles that stand in the way of a lasting and viable peace. The witnesses include leading Middle East scholars, peace activists, journalists, religious leaders and humanitarian workers whose voices have too often been suppressed in American media.
Seven Deadly Myths — Lia Tarachansky documents the journey of an Israeli from settler to Palestinian activist. The movie goes back to the formation of Israel in 1948 and covers both what really happened and the processes in Israel to suppress Israeli dissent. I’m not sure if it is out yet. The timing is 2013 and I don’t see how long it is.
The Gatekeepers (full length feature)is a superb Israeli documentary (Partially funded by CBC), that is based on interviews with a half-dozen former heads of the Shin Bet, Israel’s primary security agency. Speaking frankly about their work, dealing with major incidents during their careers, and showing graphic video of those events, these highly intelligent, articulate officials shed a revealing light on Israel’s policy toward the Palestinians and toward the militant settlers who dominate the right wing of Israeli politics. It is no pretty picture. Captured terrorists are executed out of hand, targeted assassinations go wrong and innocent women and children die, while politicians of all stripes regularly sacrifice Shin Bet and principle to save their own skins. These hard men who spent their lives protecting their nation’s interests have all come to the conclusion that present Israeli policy is fundamentally wrong.
Globalization
Who’s Counting. NFB Film: New Zealand MP Marilyn Waring visits the World Bank and the IMF trying to understand how our global economy works. She explains the rules of the system and some of its absurdities in plain real life examples everyone can understand. Made at least 15 years ago but still very relevant today.
The Corporation – (2 hours and 25 minutes): WINNER OF 26 INTERNATIONAL AWARDS! 10 Audience Choice Awards including the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. THE CORPORATION explores the nature and spectacular rise of the dominant institution of our time. Taking its status as a legal “person” to the logical conclusion, the film puts the corporation on the psychiatrist’s couch to ask “What kind of person is it?” The Corporation includes interviews with 40 corporate insiders and critics – including Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein, Milton Friedman, Howard Zinn, Vandana Shiva and Michael Moore – plus true confessions, case studies and strategies for change. Trailer http://www.thecorporation.com/index.cfm?page_id=46
Wal Mart – The High Cost of Low Price: Wal-Mart (2005) has become one of America’s most successful retail chains by offering everyday goods at low prices for working families. But just how is Wal-Mart able to charge less than many of their rivals, and what has their success done for their employees? Documentary filmmaker Robert Greenwald takes a look inside the discount retailer’s empire, and discovers a company short on scruples and long on shabby treatment of the people who work for them. Watch free: Walmart: The High Cost Of Low Prices FULL MOVIE – YouTube
Oh Canada – Our Bought and Sold Out Land: This 2009 documentary film challenges the dominant view that Canada has the best banking system in the world. It examines the history of banking and the cost to the common good of turning over the creation of money to the private sector. It explores how this has led to the current economic crash / recession / depression that has been going on since 2008. This film is certain to provoke an interesting discussion. Watch on U Tube: Oh Canada… Our Bought & Sold Land!! – YouTube
Wiebo’s War (NFB Film) on modern oil and gas fights: Wiebo Ludwig’s Trickle Creek Farm is off the grid and self-sufficient. It also sits atop one of the largest fields of natural gas on the continent. Despite the Ludwig family’s concerns and protestations over the potentially harmful impact of sour gas on their health and sustainability, a series of wells were drilled in close proximity to their remote Christian community. Soon after, livestock began to die, and the family started to experience health problems, including a series of miscarriages. After five years of being dismissed and ignored by industry, politicians and the press, Ludwig went to war. WIEBO’S WAR is a co-production of 52 Media Inc. (David York, producer) and the National Film Board (Bonnie Thompson, producer). The film had its North American premiere last spring at Hot Docs, where it was praised by critics. Variety wrote that WIEBO’S WAR “paints a complex and compelling picture of its subject,” while Exclaim! called Ludwig “one of the most fascinating Canadian characters of the last twenty years.” NOW Magazine stated that the film “has everything a great doc needs: a superb story that rewrites the script the media wrote about Ludwig at the time, a fascinating character in Ludwig himself, and terrific footage shot by his family as they encountered federal authorities and gas company executives.
The Price of Sugar: (90 minutes) A 2007 documentary … about exploitation of Haitian immigrants in the Dominican Republic involved with production of sugar…”. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Price_of_Sugar
A related film “The Sugar Babies ” is linked at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sugar_Babies
El Contrato: follows Teodoro, Bello Martinez, a poverty-stricken father of four living in Central Mexico, and several of his countrymen as they make an annual migration to southern Ontario. For eight months of the year the town’s population absorbs 4000 migrant labourers who pick tomatoes for conditions and wages no local will accept. Under a well-meaning government program that allows growers to monitor themselves, the opportunity to exploit workers is as ripe as the fruit they pick. Grievances are deflected by a long line of others “back home” who are willing to take their place. Despite a fear of repercussions, the workers voice their desire for dignity and respect, as much as for better working conditions. NFB Film made by Min Sook Lee
Land Rush: An excellent, 50-minute documentary that, while focused on Mali, clearly and effectively reveals the crux of several important issues facing other countries in Africa and around the world, where land is being developed by outsiders. Available from USC Canada
Gold Fever is an award-winning documentary about the exploitation of indigenous Guatemalans by a Canadian-owned mining company. (If you are putting money into Canada Pension Plan, you are investing in the company.) It has an all star cast of commentators including Noam Chomsky, David Korten, James Anaya (UN Special Rapporteur on human rights for indigenous peoples, academics, and members of the lxtahuacan community.)
Economic Globalization – Follow the Money
‘The Inside Job‘: Provides a comprehensive analysis of the global financial crisis of 2008, which at a cost over $20 trillion, caused millions of people to lose their jobs and homes in the worst recession since the Great Depression, and nearly resulted in a global financial collapse. Through exhaustive research and extensive interviews with key financial insiders, politicians, journalists, and academics, the film traces the rise of a rogue industry which has corrupted politics, regulation, and academia. It was made on location in the United States, Iceland, England, France, Singapore, and China. Full length documentary. May need two sessions. Can be live streamed from:
In Debt We Trust’(2006): Shows how the mall replaced the factory as America’s dominant economic engine and how big banks and credit card companies buy our Congress and drive us into what a former major bank economist calls modern serfdom. Americans and our government owe trillions in consumer debt and the national debt, a large amount of it to big banks and billions to Communist China. EXPERTS AGREE: A top government official compares the US today to Rome before its fall and warns that the bubble could burst. A former prosecutor says that many of these loans are worst than mafia loan-sharking practices. An ex-credit card executive explains how advertising campaigns are deliberately deceptive and misleading. Robin Hood Or Robbing The Hood: A real estate expert reports that tens of billions of dollars, are being transferred from the pockets of the poor into the vaults of big banks which use front groups and subsidiaries to camouflage their association with rip-off loans charging exorbitant interest rates. Still relevant today.
The Secret of Oz: What’s going on with the world’s economy? Foreclosures are everywhere, unemployment is skyrocketing – and this may only be the beginning. Could it be that solutions to the world’s economic problems could have been embedded in the most beloved children’s story of all time, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”? The yellow brick road (the gold standard), the emerald city of Oz (greenback money), even Dorothy’s silver slippers (changed to ruby slippers for the movie version) were powerful symbols of author L. Frank Baum’s belief that the people – not the big banks — should control the quantity of a nation’s money. The world economy is doomed to spiral downwards until we do 2 things: outlaw government borrowing; 2. outlaw fractional reserve lending. Banks should only be allowed to lend out money they actually have and nations do not have to run up a “National Debt”. Remember: It’s not what backs the money, it’s who controls its quantity. Can be live streamed from You Tube at:
Oh Canada – Our Bought and Sold Out Land: This 2009 documentary challenges the dominant view that Canada has the best banking system in the world. It examines the history of banking and the cost to the common good of turning over the creation of money to the private sector. It explores how this has led to the current economic crash / recession / depression that has been going on since 2008. This film is certain to provoke an interesting discussion.
The Environment and Climate Change
Carbon Rush: Hundreds of hydroelectric dams in Panama. Incinerators burning garbage in India. Biogas extracted from palm oil in Honduras. Ecalyptus forests harvested for charcoal in Brazil. What do these projects have in common? They are all receiving UN approved, Kyoto Protocal designed carbon credits for offsetting pollution created somewhere else. What happens when we manipulate markets to solve the climate crisis? The Carbon Rush travels across four continents and brings us up close to these projects to see their impact both on carbon emissions and on the people whose ways of life are threatened by yet another multi-million dollar industry.
Climate Refugees – The first feature film to explore in-depth the global human impact of climate change and its serious destabilizing effect on international politics. The film turns the distant concept of global warming into a concrete human problem with enormous worldwide consequences. “Climate Refugees fervently captures the human fallout of climate change. Strong visuals and potent testimony, help sound the alarm for instituting new policies and working together to create solutions to cope with this immanent crisis.”—Sundance Film Festival.
Gasland and Gasland 2 – (107 mins) Director Josh Fox first investigated the shale gas industry and fracking in 2010. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Film. His latest film, Gasland 2 (currently distributed by HBO), takes a deeper look at the dangers of hydraulic fracking around the world.
How To Boil a Frog: Unitarian Jon Cooksey and Vandy Savage’s Gemini-nominated documentary film. Cooksey uses humour and fun while still confronting us with the challenges for human survival on the planet. He shares ideas on what we as individuals can do. The filmmakers invite us to make friends, fun and trouble. Jon is part of a growing network of people, many UUs among them, who are passionately working on behalf of our climate, a sustainable economy, and post-peak oil planning. For a CUSJ review of this film, click here.
Living Downstream: The filmmaker does a beautiful job of documenting the way environmental pollutants (such as PCB’s) get into the environment, move into even the most pristeen places, get into our bodies, and cause cancer. She is being touted as a modern-day Rachel Carsen.
The Hole Story: Using striking images, rare archival footage and interviews, The Hole Story analyzes company profits and the impact of mining on the environment and the workers. A Canadian perspective, particularly Quebec and Ontario. and trailer& other presentations at http://theholestory.nfb.ca/#/theholestory/interactive
White Water, Black Gold: Follows David Lavallee on his three-year journey across western Canada in search of answers about the activities of the world’s thirstiest oil industry: the Tarsands. When David discovers that his province is ramping up growth in an extremely water intensive industry downstream of his beloved icefields, he is surprised he knows so little about this industry. This necessitates a journey: from his passion, the icefields…to oilfields. In the course of his journey he makes many discoveries: new science shows that water resources in an era of climate change will be increasingly scarce (putting this industry at risk); first nations people living downstream are contracting bizarre cancers; the upgrading of this oil threatens multiple river systems across Canada and the tailings ponds containing the waste by-products of the process threaten to befoul the third largest watershed in the world. Additionally, a planned pipeline across British Columbia brings fresh threats to BC Rivers and the Pacific Ocean. “White Water, Black Gold” is a sober look at the untold costs (to water and people) associated with developing the second largest deposit of “oil” in the world.
Future Solutions
Energy Autonomy: The 4th Revolution Sun, wind, hydro and geothermal energy are natural sources accessible to everyone all over the world. They are renewable, free and available over the long run. Energy Autonomy describes the possibility to switch to 100% renewable energy within the next 30 years by telling the stories of its protagonists—activists, nobel laureates, innovative businessmen and politicians. It demonstrates the potential for sustainable economic development and social and economic fairness through the energy revolution of the twenty-first century.
Revolution: This true-life adventure takes Rob Stewart, through 15 countries over four years where he’ll discover that humanity itself is in grave danger. He tries to find the secret to saving the ecosystems we depend on for survival. From the coral reefs in Papua New Guinea and deforestation in Madagascar to the largest and most destructive environmental project in history in Alberta, Canada, he reveals that all of our actions are interconnected and that environmental degradation, species loss, ocean acidification, pollution and food/water scarcity are reducing the Earth’s ability to house humans. But this movie is about encouragement and hope. Stewart meets with dedicated individuals and organizations working on solutions. He points to the revolutions of the past and how we’ve evolved and changed our course in times of necessity. Startling, beautiful, and provocative, Revolution inspires audiences from across the globe to start a revolution and change the world forever.
The Economics of Happiness: Voices from six continents including: Vandana Shiva, Bill McKibben, David Korten, Zac Goldsmith, Micahel Shuman, Samdhong Rinpoche, Andrew Simms, Richard Heinburg, Chris Johnstone, Juliet Schor, Clive Hamilton, Keibo Oiwa and Rob Hopkins. “Going local is the way to repair our fractured world—our ecosystems, our societies, and ourselves. From the makers of the award-winning documentary, Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh, comes a film abut the most important issues of our time. The Economics of Happiness reveals how globalization is accelerating climate change, destroying jobs, fraying the fabric of our communities, and adding to the stress of modern life. More importantly it shows these trends can be reversed. With stunning footage and thought-provoking commentary from thinkers and activists on every continent, the film demonstrates that a better world is not only possible, it is within our reach.
Poor No More: Mary Walsh from CBC’s 22 minutes gives us a hopeful look at the way out for Canada’s working poor. She takes us on a journey to Ireland and Sweden to see how they have solved problems of poverty (with affordable housing, strong unions, free university and childcare) and strengthened their economies at the same time. It’s a road movie with lots of tears and passion that will appeal to the millions of Canadians who are worrying about how to make ends meet.
In Transition 2.0: Inspiring stories of Transition initiatives around the world, responding to uncertain times with creativity, solutions and ‘engaged optimism’. On this website you’ll find reviews, upcoming screenings, more about the film, a blog of latest news, and you can order the DVD. Welcome, make yourself at home…
Shift Change – Putting Democracy To Work: Tells the little known stories of employee-owned businesses that compete successfully in today’s economy while providing secure, dignified jobs in democratic workplaces. With today’s economic crisis, some citizens and public officials are ready to think outside of the box, to reinvent our failing economy in order to restore long term community stability and a more egalitarian way of life. This film shows us firms that are owned and managed by their workers. Such firms tend to be more profitable and innovative, and more committed to the communities where they are based. They offer hope for a more equal society.
Surfing the Waste : “Dumpster diving” doesn’t involve jumping into trashcans from great heights. It’s a form of protest against wasting energy and throwing food and other products away too soon. It’s also part of an idealistic lifestyle called “freeganism,” which sprang up in the 1990s. Freeganism involves using alternative living strategies based on limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources. In this short musical, the camera captures the convictions of five young people in Montreal who go around looking for reusable waste material. The whole kitchen is equipped with it, so apparently everything they need can be found on the street. To save energy, they run the blender with a pedal and bicycle wheel. “The odd thing is that many people take offence at what we do,” one of the guys notes. Perhaps the faultfinders consider freeganism an implicit form of disapproval of their own lifestyle. The young people present their own opinions about this lifestyle in song, accompanied by piano.
Food Security
Food Inc.: Provides a critical look at the industrialized nature of our country’s food supply. It explores the relationship between how our food is produced and human health, workers’ rights, animal welfare, and other issues. Award-winning filmmaker Robert Kenner and investigative authors Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation) and Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma) present how complicated the U.S. food system has become in the last few decades. In addition to compelling footage, the film includes the voices and stories of food experts, farmers, businessmen and women, government representatives, and food advocates. It also points the way to what we can do to changing our food system to something more healthy. Watch Food Inc. Free at www.watchdocumentary.tv/food–inc–documentary/ Available at USC Canada.
King Corn: A feature documentary about two friends, one acre of corn, and the subsidized crop that drives our fast-food nation. In King Corn, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis, best friends from college on the east coast, move to the heartland to learn where their food comes from. With the help of friendly neighbors, genetically modified seeds, and powerful herbicides, they plant and grow a bumper crop of America’s most-productive, most-subsidized grain on one acre of Iowa soil. But when they try to follow their pile of corn into the food system, what they find raises troubling questions about how we eat-and how we farm Available from USC Canada
Hijacked Future: Looks at the efforts of small farmers to maintain autonomy and sovereignty over their seeds and livelihoods. It also covers the industrialization of our food processes and takes a close look at the power relations between big companies and smaller farmers and the importance of maintaining diversity in the food system and of saving heritage seeds. Available from USC Canada
To Make A Farm: Asks: what might the future of local food and farming look like? This beautifully photographed documentary explores of the lives of five young people who have decided to become small-scale farmers. VIFF calls To Make A Farm “exceptionally hopeful, giving us a close-range view of humanity along with a detailed portrayal of the nuts and bolts of agriculture.” For info:
What’s Organic about Organic?: Discusses how organic food is more than a personal choice; it is a social responsibility. It explores how making small but significant changes to everyday activities can solve many of our environmental and health problems as our health, the health of our planet, and the agricultural needs of our society are all intimately connected. Read more about it.
Dirt (The Movie): An insightful and timely film that tells the story of the glorious and unappreciated material beneath our feet.Inspired by William Bryant Logan’s acclaimed book Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth, Dirt! The Movie takes a humorous and substantial look into the history and current state of the living organic matter that we come from and will later return to. Dirt! The Movie will make you want to get dirty!
Dive! (45 min documentary): Inspired by a curiosity about our country’s careless habit of sending food straight to landfills, the mult-award-winning documentary Dive! Follows filmmaker Jeremy Selfert and friends as they dumpster dive in the back alleys and gated garbage recepticles of Los Angelos’ supermarkets. In the process, they salvage thousands of dollars worth of good, edible food—resulting in an inspiring documentary that is equal parts entertainment, guerilla journalism, and call to action.
Democracy
Bidder70 A personal story about Tim DeCristopher, surrounded by a wider context of citizen action, our history of peaceful civil disobedience, and grass roots movements demanding government and industry accountability. “At this point of unimaginable threats on the horizon, this is what hope looks like. In these times of a morally bankrupt government that has sold out its principles, this is what patriotism looks like. With countless lives on the line, this is what love looks like, and it will only grow. . . “
We Are Wisconsin: (90 minutes) When the governor of Wisconsin declares war on public employees and collective bargaining rights, a protest movement is born, bringing together people from all walks of life—from public and private sector workers, to students, pensioners, parents and community groups. Watch the story unfold on film. “This film will be the record people will refer to a hundred years from now when they study this era of greed – Michael Moore
WHIPPED: An investigation of the secret world of party discipline. (Directed by Sean Holman, 45 minutes long) Your Canada, Your Constitution (YCYC) recently released the first-ever national survey on the issue, and the results show 71% of Canadians want new legal restrictions on the power of political party leaders to control politicians in their party (only 20% were opposed; 9% did not answer). To see the survey results, click here. Another survey YCYC released in January found that 84% of Canadians also want legal restrictions to define and restrict when the Prime Minister and premiers can open and close parliament; what measures can be included in bills such as budgets; whether a government has lost a vote of confidence that should cause an election; whether an election should be called just because a Prime Minister or premier wants an election, and; which political party, or parties, will be the government after an election. All of these powers are part of the ruling party’s powers to control politicians in their party. To see the survey results, click here.
Human Rights
Prayers for Bobby: “In the wake of the tragic suicide of Ottawa’s Jamie Hubley, and after the story of the courageous public “coming out” story of teen hockey player Scott Heggart, it is clearer than ever that ‘hiding who we are’ is not life-giving for young and old alike and that caring families, friends and communities can allow all of us to thrive. A welcoming congregation is one that sends the message to those who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered (GLBT) that everyone has worth and dignity and all are accepted and celebrated for who they are. The movie: Prayers for Bobby takes a poignant look into the life of a tight-knit Christian family when religious belief, love and sexual orientation collide. Check with PFLAG for a copy.
It’s Still Elementary: “What we lacked ten years ago is awareness. What we lack today is people taking action.” Those are the closing lines in the powerful documentary, It’s STLL Elementary—The Movie and the Movement, a film that leaves educators, students, and advocates highly motivated to take action to address homophobic ignorance and harassment in schools.”
Amazing Grace: (2 hours) This is a commercial feature film from a few years ago. It is the story of the small group of people led by Rev Wilberforce and his wife who led the anti slavery movement in Britain in the early 19th century. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazing_Grace_%282006_film%29 Trailer –
Two Who Dared – The Sharp’s War is Complete: Two Unitarians go to help refugees in Czechoslovakia at the end of World War II. Released in April 2013, The premiere the film was in honor of Yom HaShoah (April 8, 2013), Holocaust Remembrance Day, in venues around the world. We will have screenings in churches, synagogues, theaters, and even private homes. Book a screening at the website: Artemis Joukowsky III Director, Two Who Dared : The Sharps’ War
Borderless: My film tells the story of undocumented workers in Canada who take the low-paying jobs that Canadians refuse to. They sew clothes in Montreal, clean high rises in Vancouver and build houses in Toronto. Their low wages subsidize our first world economy. Using silhouetted interviews and stylized imagery shot on Super 8 and mini-dv, Borderless tells the story of Angela and Geraldo. Angela works as a domestic help caring for other people’s children while her own child is growing up motherless in the Caribbean. Geraldo arrived from Costa Rica to work in the construction industry, which heavily relies on undocumented workers. In Ontario alone, almost a quarter of homebuilders are undocumented. “As long as the rivers flow: The Grassy Narrows blockade story” – Didn’t find a film but found a book about the Residential Schools and their impact – very dramatic.
Movies in French
La Reine Malade. (The Ailing Queen) (14 minutes and 57 secs.) Tells the story of the struggle of bees to survive these days. View at 1 6 La reine malade (la mort des abeilles / the death of bees ) . DOC … also on You-Tube in English.