'Man From Plains': Jimmy Carter Goes Big-Screen In Documentary

[Purveyor]

(09-10) 15:55 PDT TORONTO, Canada (AP) --

Along with building homes for the poor, overseeing elections and brokering peace, add the film-festival circuit to Jimmy Carter's activities since leaving the White House.

Carter the movie star was on hand Monday at the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of "Man From Plains," director Jonathan Demme's documentary that chronicles the former president's contentious book tour that began late last year for "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid."

Jewish groups and other critics condemned Carter for comparing Israeli actions in Palestine to the oppression under South Africa's apartheid regime.

Carter said Monday he chose the title to be provocative, not inflammatory, hoping to encourage debate over Israel's treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which he considers a key obstacle to peace in the Middle East.

"The title was accurate and it was one that I could justify to the public, and I was interrogated and cross-examined," Carter told The Associated Press in an interview alongside Demme before introducing the film to a Toronto audience. "The book is a very positive book in that it describes exactly what can be done and really must be done to bring peace to Israel."

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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/09/10/entertainment/e155526D76.DTL

[H2O Man]

1. Good.

I respect and admire President Carter. I have several of his books, and think he is a voice of conscience in this country. When I compare his books with those of ex-president Nixon, I find that Carter is far more thought-provoking.

I look forward to the documentary.