Political action documentaries
February 14, 2022 7:25 AM Subscribe
My climate change film club is looking for recommendations on more general political action documentaries. Which docs can help to inform/inspire us?
Slay the Dragon: How a group of citizens in Michigan banded together to outlaw gerrymandering.
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 8:09 AM on February 14, 2022
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 8:09 AM on February 14, 2022
The Peacemaker (2016): a documentary about Padraig O'Malley and his work on peace processes.
Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project (2019) which - like "The Peacemaker" - is inspiring but also melancholy.
Chisholm '72: Unbought and Unbossed (2004) - I haven't seen this but my spouse recommends it.
Knock Down The House (2019) - inspiring, but watch out for some strange chronological inconsistencies regarding Ocasio-Cortez's campaign and debates in particular.
posted by brainwane at 8:29 AM on February 14, 2022
Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project (2019) which - like "The Peacemaker" - is inspiring but also melancholy.
Chisholm '72: Unbought and Unbossed (2004) - I haven't seen this but my spouse recommends it.
Knock Down The House (2019) - inspiring, but watch out for some strange chronological inconsistencies regarding Ocasio-Cortez's campaign and debates in particular.
posted by brainwane at 8:29 AM on February 14, 2022
United in Anger: A History of ACT UP
"UNITED IN ANGER: A HISTORY OF ACT UP is a unique feature-length documentary that combines startling archival footage that puts the audience on the ground with the activists and the remarkably insightful interviews from the ACT UP Oral History Project to explore ACT UP (the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) from a grassroots perspective – how a small group of men and women of all races and classes, came together to change the world and save each other’s lives. "
posted by lizard music at 9:57 AM on February 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
"UNITED IN ANGER: A HISTORY OF ACT UP is a unique feature-length documentary that combines startling archival footage that puts the audience on the ground with the activists and the remarkably insightful interviews from the ACT UP Oral History Project to explore ACT UP (the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) from a grassroots perspective – how a small group of men and women of all races and classes, came together to change the world and save each other’s lives. "
posted by lizard music at 9:57 AM on February 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
The Times of Harvey Milk is old (1984) but I found it really inspiring in terms of how one builds political power in a grassroots way. It's available on HBOMAX.
posted by lunasol at 10:06 AM on February 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by lunasol at 10:06 AM on February 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Crip Camp (2020) - follows the people fighting for accessibility rights
posted by hankscorpio83 at 10:46 AM on February 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by hankscorpio83 at 10:46 AM on February 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Eyes on the Prize is a classic and Freedom Riders is a more contained and specific story that was harrowing and instructive - and inspiring.
I Am Somebody is pretty riveting half hour of anti-racist union organizing, although light on exploring the strategy.
Sir! No Sir! is very well made and engaging. I didn't know much of anything about anti-war organizing by vets and soldiers before watching it. Illuminating.
The Weather Underground shows where some activists headed after the mass marches etc didn't achieve their goals.
The Fall of the I Hotel does not end happily for the activists but does show their movement.
posted by latkes at 1:25 PM on February 15, 2022
I Am Somebody is pretty riveting half hour of anti-racist union organizing, although light on exploring the strategy.
Sir! No Sir! is very well made and engaging. I didn't know much of anything about anti-war organizing by vets and soldiers before watching it. Illuminating.
The Weather Underground shows where some activists headed after the mass marches etc didn't achieve their goals.
The Fall of the I Hotel does not end happily for the activists but does show their movement.
posted by latkes at 1:25 PM on February 15, 2022
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posted by captainscared at 7:49 AM on February 14, 2022