Freedom, Justice, and Responsibility
The American Civil War is referred to as the war to free black slaves, but something that we don't realize is that blacks fought in the war. This film tells the story of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, which was made up of black soldiers who were led by Robert Gould Shaw, a white man. It was widely believed at that time that black troops weren't capable fighters and as a result, they paid the black soldiers less than the white soldiers. The 54th Regiment did not accept their pay, Shaw and second in command, Forbes also denied their pay. This action binds the regiment together in mutual trust and friendship and is able to tell a story about soldiers who are proud to bleed, march and die for their rights.
Climate Refugees is a documentary by Micheal Nash. This eye opening film portrays the current and future dangers to our plant caused by rapid climate change and the effect they are having on the human race. The film displays countries that are already experiencing tragedies caused by floods, droughts, hurricanes, and tornadoes. The documentary features interviews with major political figures, climate scientists, and disaster professionals, but the most moving quote comes from a boy in Bangladesh that asks the film maker if he will tell his story to America so that America will help them.
Black in Latin America is part of a trilogy of films looking to see the differences culturally around the world. In this film, the focus is on Haiti and the Dominican Republic who are both located on the same island and separated by only a small river. Each week, these people create a fair-like event on both sides where they sell goods. While they both share an island, the cultures could not be further apart. Haiti, a more Caribbean inspired nation was the first Latin country to gain freedom, and celebrate it with island dancing and Latin-inspired festivities. The Dominican Republic, is more African inspired and have more Afrikaans speakers and speak their own version of a Spanish-Afrikaans.
The film Hotel Rwanda is a powerful and moving piece based on the true historical event of the Rwandan Genocide of 1994. The main character Paul Rusesabagina is played by Don Cheadle. The film displays the real life horror and hell that this genocide brought to the country of Rwanda. The Hutu was the more populated ethnic group with the other being the Tutsi and after the plane crash of the Hutu president the Hutu leaders blame the Tutsi and pledge to wipe out the Tutsi race. and start the mass murdering. Paul Rusesabagina is a Hutu and his wife is a Tutsi. He runs an upscale hotel and finds himself protecting a number of Tutsi in the walls of the hotel. Paul makes it his responsibility to act and protect the human lives of the Tutsi people at the risk of his life and the lives of his wife and children.
Wag the Dog is a story about a politically powerful spin doctor who attempts to influence a United States Presidential election. In the film, the primary candidate has been involved in a sex scandal where Robert De Niro’s character attempts to deflect the scrutiny be hiring Hollywood producer to create a fake war in Albania. In doing this, they cause actual animosity with Albania to a point where it becomes confusing to the people involved if the war they created was real or fake.
The film Water is about a "widow orphanage" where widows of all ages are send to this facility where they are kept "captive" until they die. It is written in the law that widows cannot be married again or else it is considered a sin. In this film it shows how over time the law given to widows is slowly dying and they are begining to look for a different joyful life, like remarrying, rather than being stuck in a facility for life. It is an eye opener to the cultural beliefs in the Hindu population and how much impact the laws have on innocent victims. Water is an outstanding Canadian film directed by Deepa Mehta in 2005.
Would you believe that the whole of human existence can be traced back to the beginning of man in Africa? Believe it. Human Family Tree is a National Geographic documentary which looks to show where people came from and who they are distantly. With only a few hundred individuals giving sample of their DNA, it gives scientist the ability to see who is related distantly, and who is related on a more recent point in time. It is very surprising to see where we all came from and how we came to be where we are currently. Kevin Bacon narrates this documentary.
Darling! The Pieter Dirk-Uys Story is a documentary about a South African political satirist who is passionately engaged in educating school children about the genocide that he happening in their country in the form of HIV/AIDS. Pieter Dirk-Uys allows us to see into his personal life and shares his political opinions without the satire. This documentary shows how Pieter not only educates school children about the prevention of HIV/AIDS, but also educates the people of South Africa about the changes that need to be made to their country.
Good Hair is a comedy documentary about African American women's hair. Chris Rock thought of making this production after his daughter asked him "Why she didn't have good hair?". In the film he travels to different places around the globe to find out what is considered "good hair" according to who and how much money is spend on hair especially in the African American Community. The documentary was first shown at the Sundance Film festival in January 2009 and then it was realeased to selected theaters in the United States.
The film The Lives of Others is a dramatic thriller set in East Germany in the few years before the collapse of the Berlin Wall. The East German government was keeping an eye on the communist playwright George Dreyman, but the surveillance is not for what originally thought. The Stasi officer assigned to the surveillance finds out of the real reason of spying, and he is confronted with the decision of doing his job or doing what is right.