Two films that every DUer should see!

[NightTrain]

THE AGRONOMIST is Jonathan Demme's film about Jean Dominique, the son of wealthy Haitian landowners. Despite his light skin and privileged background, Dominique became a radio journalist and outspoken critic of both Duvalier regimes, and later of those who overthrew President Jean-Bertrand Aristide the first time (in 1991). In April 2000, Dominique was shot to death outside the Radio Haiti building. This film is a poignant testament to the potential of radio to have a lasting and positive effect on people's lives.

CONTROL ROOM centers on Al Jazeera's coverage of the Iraq War during the spring of 2003. Prominently featured are the disgusted and bitter Hassan Ibrahim, a former BBC reporter who now works for the Arabic TV channel; producer Samir Khader (sp?), whose approach to the war and his reporting on it is calm and philosophical; and U.S. Marine Lieutenant Josh Rushing, Director of Communications at Central Command, who considers Fox News and Al Jazeera flip sides of the same ideological coin.

Not only was CONTROL ROOM the ideal film to see after THE AGRONOMIST, it also would make a nice complement to FAHRENHEIT 9/11. I highly recommend both!

[the Kelly Gang]

1. are they on DVD...in cinemas ??

[ablbodyed]

5. Not on DVD yet>>>>

according to IMDb site, and limited public showings, mostly on the Coasts and bigger cities (doh!!!)

[Sporadicus]

2. Good Recommendations

I already have plans to see 'Control Room,' but I'll certainly look for 'The Agronomist' too.

[AFSCME girl]

3. I have been wanting to see Control Room..

and The Agronomist sounds great as well. Thanks for the info
NightTrain! :yourock:

[Webster Green]

4. Wow...Jonathan Demme....The Master....

Can't wait to see it!

[Wind Dancer]

6. The Control Room

The Control Room gives such insight into the emotional and conflicting views of the war through a different lens. At the beginning of the movie, we meet the U.S. Press Officer in CentCom, Lieutenant Josh Rushing, dedicated to the cause of helping the country and its people. At the end of the film, his sincerity seems to diminish, a transition captured by his emotions. After 14 years in the military, he is retiring and was forbidden to speak about this film.

Another person in the film was journalist, Hassan Ibrahim. He brought such wisdom and insight with his years of reporting and perspective from the ME. From the beginning, he tries to explain the difficulty and pain of war.

I was deeply troubled after watching this but it makes me more determined to end the insanity.

[milkyway]

7. "The Corporation" is also excellent.

It's as powerful as F 9/11. While from a strong left wing perspective, it does not come across as shrill. It is a frightening film. If left uncontrolled, multinational corporations will eventually be the end of us all. Some memorable moments: in Bolivia, the water became privatized--including rainwater! And who owned the Bolivian rain? Our good friends at Bechtel.

The movie also talks about an unbelievable episode that I never knew about: in the early 1930's, some corporations plotted to overthrow FDR and install a fascist dictatorship. DuPont, Goodyear, and others went to an American military General, Smedley Butler, and told him that they planned to raise an army of 500,000, which he would lead. They would demand that FDR share power with them, and then they would eventually overthrow FDR. Instead, the General went public with the plot.