[Marxism] Film about the Paris Commune

["Charles Brown" <cbrown@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This Monday the Detroit Institute of Art is showing Part One (of 2) of one
of the most
challenging progressive films ever made. A 6-hour study of the Paris
Commune, an historical event long overlooked by most historians. This
experiment in communal society is powerfully presented in an experimental
manner by one of the world's most intelligent filmmakers, Peter Watkins. I
urge you to find time to see this challenging film. It's black and white and
done in a "You Are There" style, different from all conventional films.
Someday I hope to help organize a Watkins Film Retrospective to help bring
recognition to this sadly overlooked pioneer in activist filmmaking.


Bill Meyer


LA COMMUNE (Paris, 1871) PART ONE
(France?2000?Peter Watkins)

Challenging all existing notions of non-fiction cinema, as well as
questioning the very notion of ³objectivity² in media, the legendary Peter
Watkins (The War Game, Edvard Munch) has set his gaze upon Paris in March of
1871, when a short-lived revolutionary government was established in the
wake of a popular uprising. In Watkins¹ visionary, six-hour experiment, he
recreates the monumental event and conceives of it being covered live by
dual teams of TV journalists: one which reports from the rebels¹
perspective, the other providing the ³official² version of history. A
thrilling, mind-altering examination of how we indeed manage to ³see what we
want to believe.² (part one approx. 180 min.)

³The best picture of the year.² ?J. Hoberman, The Village Voice

February 9 - 7:30 p.m.




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