Arena No. 1 – On Anarchist Cinema
Edited by Richard Porton. Contributions by: Russell Campbell, Pietro Ferrua, Dan Georgakas, Andrew Hedden, Eric Jarry and more. Published by PM (...)
Film Reviews and Bibliography
See also
Other films commented in French : "Quand les anars se font leur cinéma"
Other films commented in Spanish
In our era of accelerating global capitalism, where constant upheaval of every kind—political, social, economic, cultural, environmental—is the rule, the search for a social system that brings prosperity with justice has never been sought by as many people. The history of anarchism, whose roots go back to mid-19th century France and Russia, is based on “utopia,” the ideal of mutual aid and voluntary cooperation in lieu of control by the state or private concentrations of power.
Perhaps better known for the means, or perhaps failures, in achieving its goals rather than the ends desired, anarchist philosophy nonetheless lies at the heart of numerous activist organizations and causes (left and right) worldwide and has shaped our popular and political culture in countless ways. Today, both terms of internal structure and external goals, much is indebted to the anarchist imagination. Yet for a broader public, the spectrum of anarchist ideals remains outside the confines of common understanding, ignored as outmoded, equated with failed Marxism/Communism, thought to be the dangerous (terrorist) passion of the underclass or simply the nihilism of the young.
But the continuing inquiry by writers, historians, artists, activists and filmmakers into the subject in our globalist age suggests that its relevance to the present continues. We hope this series offers insight into the revolutionary desire for a better world. "
NW Film Center: Portland Art Museum, May 2002 Festival
Articles
Arena No. 1
• Richard Porton Arena Guest Editor, author of Film and the Anarchist Imagination, teaches cinema studies at New York University, writes on film (...)
Angelopoulos, Theo. "Alexander the Great" (O Megalexandros)
Greece, 1980 color 235’ WRITING CREDITS: Theo ANGELOPOULOS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Stavros KAPLANIDIS EDITOR: Giorgos TRIANTAFILLOU. CAST: (...)
Viva Zapata! (1952)
Emiliano Zapata Salazar (August 8, 1879 ¿ April 10, 1919) was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution, which broke out in 1910 initially (...)
"Fight club"
Fox 2000 Pictures and Regency Enterprises present a Linson Films production a David Fincher Film Screenplay by Jim Ohls Produced by Art (...)
Eros plus Massacre
Japanese (1969) Black and White Yoshishige Yoshida (Director) wrote it in cooperation with Masahiro Yamada The original, long version of (...)
V for Vendetta, directed by James McTeigue
Since anarchism is a notoriously difficult term to define, it should not be surprising that the concept of "anarchist cinema" is equally elusive. (...)
ROUDINE, V. " Art for the People? (The Slanderous Cinema)" [1913]. I
When I see crowd pressing itself the evening at the entry of the theatre-cinematographs which multiply each day in every districts, in every (...)
ROUDINE, V. " Art for the People? (The Slanderous Cinema)" [1913]. II
Read the previous article Following my article on "The Slanderous Cinema," some comrades began here a debate on the aesthetic education of the (...)
Entertaining Angels: the Dorothy Day Story
by Michael Ray RHODES USA, 1996 color 112’. WRITING CREDITS: John WELLS; PROD.: Ellwood E. KIESER. A PAULIST PICTURE. CAST: Moira (...)
Alfred Levitt. A Life Considered.
Alfred Levitt was perhaps the ultimate raconteur. A gifted storyteller with over a century of experience, he was a renowned artist, humanist, (...)
Signals through the Flames
The Story of the Living Theater A film by Sheldon Rochlin and Maxine Harris.