Change Your Image
elb_s
Reviews
Occupy Unmasked (2012)
hilarious witch-hunting fail
two groups will watch this:
1. Breitbartians who believe his bizarrely vengeful, unrelenting attacks (FBI snitch Brandon Darby* was heavily involved here, with a personal vendetta against his former comrades who (surprise!) voiced anger upon learning of their misplaced trust in a manipulative informant)on the Occupy movement. 2. Occupiers looking for a laugh and a chance to see their friends who were clueless enough to respond to leading "interviews" and were rewarded by being taken out of context.
For the rest of the world--even those who opposed Occupy--the premise that the movement had vast, sinister implications is too silly to spend time on. Whether it be Tea Party or OWS, intensely partisan interests just can't help stretching their distaste for the politics of the OTHER into unbelievable narratives. Those of us who harbor a healthy distrust for our UNrepresentative government won't be swayed by such overt maneuvers to divide and conquer.
*For more on Brandon Darby, I highly recommend the documentary "Better this World"
Der Baader Meinhof Komplex (2008)
I'm a little afraid of myself now
Despite being politically active, and (I thought) relatively well-versed in 20th century anti-capitalist/colonialist revolutionary movements, my knowledge of the RAF going into this movie was scant.
Probably because I'm American and have been raised on our cultural propaganda (wherein historic social victories are whitewashed to locate success only within our infallible constitutional framework; and where any revolutionaries since the Founding Fathers could not have acted on beliefs that were righteous, and must recant those former beliefs with soul-searching regret for their UNRIGHTEOUS ideologies)I expected a lot more focus on maudlin gray area. Not that the film cast the RAF as heroes to cheer for. Reading the reviews here, I recognize now that the critiques of the RAF's actions were present, just not in the "hit-you-over-the-head" manner of U.S. documentaries.
Despite the harms done by the RAF (which were minuscule compared to the harms they protested); despite the contradiction of so much of their ideology and praxis with my own beliefs (e.g., their embracing nationalism, assassination, etc.)--I'll be damned if I didn't cheer for them all the way through.
I'm surprised so many have presumed this film wouldn't resonate with a young American audience. While not so young myself, I spent a great deal of time with folks of all ages in the heyday of Occupy. The frustration at the collective inertia to action amongst complacent modern Americans is palpable amongst folks of all political stripes. And growing...at a certain point, the swelling malcontent can't help a *bit* of respect for groups who actually act on their articulated agenda...and an agenda that includes killing a few bankers and fascist cops? The elite talking head circle underestimate the mood of the American public if they suppose the history portrayed here would evince emotional disconnect or outrage. Besides, the acting was beyond-respectable, the pace engrossing, and the recreation of the era felt authentic. Admittedly there were loose ends regarding ideological development...thankfully the internet and my library provide me plenty opportunity to tie up those ends.
As initially stated, I find my inner blood-lust a bit disturbing upon reflection (you hear that PRISM? I neither have nor plan to have a murderous vanguard association at any point!)...but in this era of learned helplessness, I'm not sure that's entirely a bad thing.