Occupy Wall Street: A Documentary Look From the Inside
From The New York Times :
A year after Occupy Wall Street protests began some pundits are quick to declare the movement dead or pointless, a venting of unfocused frustration that wasted its opportunities. Occupy members would beg to differ.
“The world needs to change,” Mr. Trainor says, calling his film “an invitation for you to participate.”
In “American Autumn: An Occudoc,” part survey course, part recruiting tool, Dennis Trainor Jr. offers a concise review of the protests that first encamped in Zuccotti Park then swept across the nation and around the world. While eventually embracing a host of progressive causes, Occupy fundamentally opposed undue corporate power and influence over the levers of government. And it pressed the issue of income inequality and its social costs, defining this election season’s dominant theme.
“American Autumn” has plenty of shots of confrontations with the police; of protesters and their trenchant slogans and signs; of “we are the 99 percent” chants and “mike checks”; of speakers at rallies including Cornel West, Naomi Klein and Michael Moore. It will probably not persuade many Occupy critics to change their opinions. But as manifestoes go it is calm and smart, offsetting its stridency with discussion, music, even humor, while issuing a call to arms. “The world needs to change,” Mr. Trainor says, calling his film “an invitation for you to participate.”
Opens on Friday in Manhattan. Directed by Dennis Trainor Jr. 1 hour 16 minutes; not rated. Tickets and Screenings.
