Friends of "Bobby"
By Justin Juul
Almost every film I’ve been exposed to in the past three years has had a political theme, but that’s because I’m a social science major at a notoriously left wing university in Northern California. For people living outside the bubble, political films are blips on the radar, receiving far less attention from distributors than movies like “Spider-Man 3” and “Casino Royale.” The films I see at school belong to the meticulously assembled catalogs of the professors who show them, but are otherwise virtually invisible. Whether documentary or feature, political films often go unnoticed unless they are extremely well financed or produced by Hollywood royalty. Emilio Estevez’s new film, “Bobby,” meets both of these requirements, so it will undoubtedly reach a massive audience and win plenty of awards, but what about the rest?
For that, I asked Mike Rotkin, lecturer and field studies coordinator for the Community Studies department at UC Santa Cruz, to offer a list of his favorite political films. In addition to his work at the University, Mike is an active city council member in Santa Cruz and has served numerous terms as mayor. He also teaches an introductory course on Marxism where he screens some of his favorite films on a weekly basis. Mike’s other interests include riding motorcycles, singing political songs on community access television, and community organizing. He is one of the busiest and most passionate people you will ever meet.
1. Salt of the Earth
“Some might find it too PC and a little socialist realism, but I think it is a very powerful film about the importance of dealing with race and gender when it comes to organizing.”
2. The Harder They Come
“Great music, a great mix of politics and culture in Jamaica.”
3. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
“A classic Frank Capra film with great acting, values, and a sure antidote for cynicism.”
4. Matewan
“A powerful remake of ‘The Organizer,’ by John Sayles, which examines the famous strike in a West Virginia mining community. Just as in Italy in the original film, Sayles makes us see the key role that breaking down national and racial barriers plays in building labor solidarity.”
5. Syriana
“A thriller which makes it much easier to understand what creates suicide bombers, that ‘terrorist’ is all about point of view, and produced with a very believable and fast moving action plot.”
6. Hearts and Minds
“The classic Anti War in Vietnam film. Maybe the key film in educating a generation of anti-war activists.”
7. Koyaanisqatsi
“Amazing music by Philip Glass and a very powerful wave of images that washes over you with the clear evidence that we live in a mad world with very screwed up consumer values.”
8. Local Hero
“A quiet little film which follows the transformation of a corporate developer as he engages a small Scottish seacoast town he is trying to buy up for an oil refinery.”
9. The History Book
“Originally made for Danish children’s television, so this brief history of capitalism may be a little challenging for American adult audiences. Seriously — substitute this film for every history class you ever took before, and probably even during, college.”
10. The Corporation
“A bit too long, but a powerful analysis of the major institution of our modern society, what motivates its behavior and what it means for our world.”
11.24.2006