FeaturesBehind the LabelsUSA 2001, 45 minutes, Director: Tia LessinPowerful hidden camera footage reveals the true story behind the expensive clothes in the world’s top fashion stores. This film exposes the harsh conditions faced by women working in the garment industry in the U.S. Pacific territory of Saipan. Lured by false promises and driven by desperation, thousands of Chinese and Filipina women pay high fees to work in the factories. Their personal stories offer a rare and unforgettable glimpse into indentured labour and the workings of the global sweatshop. Other recent films by Director/Producer Tia Lessin: Find out about the workers’ legal challenge www.sweatshopwatch.org. Screening times: Auckland Wellington Christchurch Bread and RosesUSA 2000, Rating: 110 minutes, Director: Ken Loach, Featuring: Pilar Padilla, Elpidia Carillo, Adrien BrodyA young Mexican woman Maya (Pilar Padilla) illegally crosses the border into Southern California to join her sister, Rosa (Elpidia Carillo). Maya struggles to find work without official papers, and finds herself manipulated and exploited in job after job. Rosa eventually finds Maya a regular position at the cleaning company where she works, although it comes at the price of a full month’s salary. Soon Sam (Adrien Brody) from “Justice for Janitors” shows up, trying to convince the workers to unionise, and it’s through this struggle that we see Maya come to political awareness. “An impassioned work of integrity and a human drama of observation, insight, and great import. Based on the real life Justice For Janitors campaign in 1990, Ken Loach’s first foray into American production is a typically committed, and politically and socially aware film about ordinary human dignity in the face of corporate might and indifference. As ever, the director draws naturalistic performances from a largely untried cast with Padilla - in her acting debut - revealing the spirit and defiance which characterised the workers’ struggle and the plight of those eking out a living in a foreign and often hostile land.” - BBC Click here to find out what actor Adrien Brody (starring in Peter Jackson’s upcoming movie, King Kong) has to say about going undercover to research labour rights. Awards: Presented by Screening times: Auckland Wellington Christchurch Condor Axis of EvilFrance 2003, 90 minutes, Director Rodrigo Vazquez, English, Spanish and French with subtitlesFirst-hand testimonies shed light on Operation Condor, the sinister collusion in the 1960s and 70s between South America’s military dictators and Interpol and the CIA. Launched in 1975, Operation Condor united half a dozen Latin American dictatorships with a singular cause: to stamp out the threat of leftist political opposition by any means possible, often by torture and assassination. In the name of “the struggle against terrorism,” Condor conducted a secret war on South American dissidents for more than a decade - a war its architects openly claim as a progenitor of the current “War on Terrorism.” “Condor… gets its hooks into an audience, particularly a politically savvy one, with its intelligent impassioned approach… Briskly edited, it leaps furiously from one subject to the next, densely packing its information into a svelte 90-minute frame…giving viewers thought-provoking [details] in potent, well-documented doses…” - Variety Screening times: Auckland Wellington Christchurch The Fourth World WarUSA 2004, 76 minutes, Directors: Richard Rowley & Jacqueline SoohenTHE FOURTH WORLD WAR weaves together images and voices from the front lines of struggles spanning five continents where the mainstream media cannot go. It is the human story of men and women who resist being annihilated by the current conflicts in Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, Israel/Palestine, Korea, ‘the North’ from Seattle to Genova, and of the ‘War on Terror’ in New York, Afghanistan, and Iraq. The product of over two years of filming, THE FOURTH WORLD WAR is a film that would have been unimaginable at any other moment in history. Produced through a global network of independent media and activist groups. Featuring music from Manu Chao, Asian Dub Foundation, Múm, Moosaka, Cypher AD. Narrated by Michael Franti & Suheir Hammad “Inspirational. Essential. THE FOURTH WORLD WAR documents the future
before it’s born… and while we can still do something about it.” “An affirmation of shared humanity in defiance of nationalism” “A unique document from the frontlines of the world” Screening times: Auckland Wellington Christchurch Hamburg CellUK 2004, Rating still to come, 100 minutes, Director: Antonia Bird, Featuring: Karim Saleh, Omar Berdouni, Adnan Marai, Agni TsangaridouBased on known facts and actual events, this is your only chance to see the highly acclaimed and riveting fictional depiction of the September 11 hijackers on the big screen in New Zealand. Sure to be one of the most controversial films of the year, this docu-drama produced by New Zealander Finola Dwyer puts a human face on the cataclysmic events of 2001. A unique insight into events that have changed our world. “Some thrillers grip. This one had me in an SAS chokehold. If there is a more important, more urgent story to be told than this, I can’t think of it: the story of the 9/11 hijackers.” - The Guardian “It’s indicative of the film’s even-handedness that it might be read in radically different ways, depending on one’s perspective and beliefs. Were the viewer a fundamentalist Muslim sympathetic to jihad, it could be seen as a celebration, a rallying-call to the faithful. Whereas, for hawkish neo-cons, it must seem like a journey into the heart of darkness, a study of pure evil. However, for most of us, adrift in the centre and sickened by both extremes, it’s a document of ideological corruption, the unthinkable made flesh.” Edinburgh Film Festival Screening times: Auckland Wellington Christchurch Land of the Morning StarAustralia 2004, 55 minutes, Director: Mark WorthFor centuries world powers have jostled for control of the rugged, isolated land of West Papua with its strategic position and abundant natural resources. This is an epic story of colonial ambitions, cold war sell outs and fervent nationalism featuring rare archival film and eyewitness accounts. “…a forceful chronicle of the bastardry and oppression that the West Papuan people have endured throughout their history…With its many heartbreaking eyewitness accounts, this is a devastating tale, told in compelling fashion. Truly not to be missed.” - The Age, Melbourne “For those who prefer a well-made documentary to fruity frivolity, this covers the turbulent colonial history of what is now Papua but has also been known as Netherlands New Guinea, West Papua and Irian Jaya… Sadly, Worth died recently in a Papuan hospital aged 45. This documentary is a tribute to his passion for the region, as well as a compelling overview of a story very similar to East Timor’s (including Australian involvement).” - Sydney Morning Herald “Australian film icon Rachel Griffiths narrates this intriguing documentary about the western half of the island of New Guinea… Eyewitness accounts and rare archival footage provide insights into a place torn between Western power plays and a diverse regional culture.” - Canberra Times Screening times: Auckland Wellington Christchurch MercyThailand 2002, 50 minutes, Director: Jeanne HallacyFilmed over two years at a community hospice in Klong Toey, Thailand, the story unfolds as a thirteen-year-old girl, Luk Nam, recalls the loss of her family to AIDS. Mercy is an unsettling document of another side to the growing AIDS crisis - the future of the children whose parents are HIV-positive or have died from AIDS-related illnesses. Despite the horror of their circumstances, young Luk Nam and the hospice patients and workers show incredible compassion, strength, and hope. “Mercy is a powerful and uplifting documentary revealing the everyday life challenges faced by an increasing number of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Thailand today”. - Dr Peter Piot, UNAIDS “Mercy is a very moving, beautiful, poignant portrayal of a few years in the life of a very stoic, heroic child under horrendous circumstances.” - Ann Petru, Pediatric AIDS/HIV Program, Children’s Hospital & Research Center at Oakland Screening times: Auckland Wellington Christchurch Mother’s CrossingBelgium/ France 2004, 61 Mins, Director: Lode DesmetThe moving story of an Iranian woman and her two daughters on the run from their violent husband and father. A people smuggler takes them on a dangerous journey through the marshlands that separate Turkey from Greece. People smugglers are invariably labelled as rock hard criminals, who make desperate refugees the victims of their greed and operate in vast networks. The truth is different. Refugees do not see themselves as victims but as customers. “The smuggler did not push me on this dangerous journey,” says Sima, the mother. “I took the decision alone, in my heart.” “Mother’s Crossing is a modest enough film—it simply shows one family’s attempt to cross from Turkey into Greece - but it makes a big impression on the mind and heart. It is a valuable look into a world that everyone knows exists but which is, by its nature, hidden as deeply as possible in the dark.” - Offoffoff.com Screening times: Auckland Wellington Christchurch Passionate VoicesUSA 2004, 33 minutes, Cindy Burstein, Tony Heriza, Wendy UniverWith billions of dollars in U.S. aid pouring into the region each year, American public opinion has become a driving force in the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. Passionate Voices examines the often intense American Jewish conversation concerning this dispute. From street demonstrations to kitchen table discussions, Passionate Voices follows committed individuals whose views span the political spectrum. Screening times: Wellington Christchurch PromisesPalestine/Israel/USA 2001, PG, 106 minutes, Directors: Justine Shapiro & B.Z. Goldberg, Arabic, Hebrew and English dialogue with English subtitlesThough they may live only minutes apart, Palestinian and Israeli children exist in completely separate worlds; the physical, historical and emotional obstacles between them run deep. Promises explores the nature of these boundaries and tells the story of seven children who dared to cross the lines to meet their neighbours. Rather than focusing on political events, the seven children featured in Promises offer a refreshing, human and sometimes humorous portrait of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Screening times: Auckland ReframeNew Zealand 2004, 100 minutes, Director: Jo LupingThis feature documentary looks at the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through the lens of international law. The film follows New Zealand human rights lawyer Dianne Luping as she works in the occupied Palestinian territories during 2001 and 2002. Along the way, the viewer is introduced to a number of Jewish and Palestinian peace activists working at a grass roots level, and a voice is given to those living at the front line. “A highly charged documentary aimed at bringing an increased awareness of the Arab-Israeli situation to the world’s attention. The Reframe group rest on the conviction that international civil society can and ultimately will make the difference.” www.critic.co.nz Screening times: Auckland Wellington Christchurch Resistencia: Hip-Hop in ColombiaUnited Kingdom 2002, 51 minutes, Director: Tom Feiling, Spanish with English subtitlesA radical and thought-provoking exploration of how young Colombians feel about the crisis afflicting their country. RESISTENCIA chronicles a summer in the lives of some of Colombia’s finest rappers, DJs and breakdancers, offering a glimpse of the country’s long-running civil war through the eyes of youth directly affected by it. Its style is youthful and entertaining, but also angry and enlightening. “The documentary is an eye-opening experience. It portrays strong realities and powerful images of poverty and includes footage of children, teenagers, and adults faced with struggles that many people do not know exist.” - Mosaico.com Awards: Screening times: Auckland Wellington Christchurch SacrificeThailand/USA 1998, 50 minutes, Director: Ellen BrunoSACRIFICE examines the social, cultural and economic forces at work in the trafficking of Burmese girls into prostitution in Thailand. It is the story of the valuation and sale of human beings, and the efforts of teenage girls to survive a personal crisis born of economic and political repression. “SACRIFICE offers a view of the terrible odds faced by women born into poverty where the only commodity for sale is their bodies. These are complicated stories [which] capture, with great visual invention, the dignity and damaged nobility of young Burmese victims… [a] chilling view of sexual exploitation…one we have never seen before.” - San Francisco Bay Guardian “Compelling interviews and beautiful photography create a complex portrait of economic conditions in Burma, and the impact this has on families, rural villages and the young women themselves.” - San Francisco International Film Festival Awards: Screening times: Auckland Wellington Christchurch ShipbreakersCanada 2004, 75 minutes, Director: Michael KotAn international story of greed, survival, Third World labour, geopolitics and an environmental disaster on the shores of India. Shipbreakers is a visually stunning portrait of India’s maritime graveyard in Alang. It follows the daily lives of workers and bosses who will spend two months toiling from sunup to sundown to methodically destroy a 30,000 ton vessel. Screening times: Auckland Wellington Sixty Thousand BarrelsAustralia 2002, 52 minutes, Director: Jane CastleA time bomb of 60,000 barrels of toxic waste is ticking away only metres from houses in the Sydney suburb of Botany. Seventy-eight year old Nancy Hillier is determined to make sure the community has its say in the disposal of toxic waste at Orica, an ICI subsidiary. She’s a working class hero whose tool-kit includes humour, smarts, and common sense. “Thank goodness for Nancy Hillier.” Screening times: Auckland Wellington Christchurch Short FilmsArms for the PoorUSA 1998, 28 minutes, Directors: John Ankele & Anne Macksound, Award: 1999 Cine Golden EagleThis film builds a dramatic case against the U.S. weapon-export business to developing countries. Revealing the murky world of business in high tech weapons, this documentary explores the present day influence of the military-industrial complex. Arms for the Poor presents an international spectrum of experts, dignitaries and activists who believe that “the poor are crying out for schools and doctors, not guns and generals”. “It is deeply disturbing to learn that 32 top executives and major shareholders from the arms industry have been appointed to top defense positions in the Bush administration” - www.olddogdocumentaries.com Screening times: Auckland Wellington Christchurch Burma ReportProduced by Jeanne Hallacy, Thailand. (15 minutes)Eyewitness accounts and footage smuggled out of the country show the lead up and violent attack on Nobel peace prize winner and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters in May 2003. Screening times: Auckland Wellington Christchurch ChildrenDirected by Le Sheng Liu, 2003, USA, 3 minutesAnimated film backed by the voices of chanting children talking about where their clothes are made. In the spirit of “this is the house that Jack built”. Screening times: Auckland Wellington Christchurch Entrenched Abuse: Forced Labor in BurmaFilmed by human rights workers, produced by Witness. 12 minutesThe authoritarian military regime that rules Burma (Myanmar) forces hundreds of thousands of people to work against their will and without pay. They work on the regime's development projects, as porters in the military, and in other forms of compulsory labour. Screening times: Auckland Wellington GravityDirected by Colin Hutton, UK, 6 minutesThree boys power play with a gun. Gravity deals with the detached nature of gun violence, and how actions and responsibility are often very disconnected. (Wellington only) Screening times: Wellington Greed and Grievance, Aceh’s WarNew Zealand, 29 minutes, Director: Myles GreenGreed and Grievance: Aceh’s War relates accounts of abuse by the Indonesian military in the province of Aceh through testimonials of Acehnese who have fled from torture, abduction and other forms of oppression. Directed by New Zealander Myles Green it includes interviews with New Zealand human rights activists Maire Ledbetter and Ced Simpson. Screening times: Auckland Wellington Christchurch No Place to Go: Internally Displaced People in BurmaFilmed by human rights workers, produced by Witness, 12 minutesHundreds of thousands of people have been driven out of their homes and villages by the policies of the military regime in Burma (Myanmar). These personal testimonies put an urgent human face on the issue of internally displaced people. Screening times: Auckland Wellington No LimitsDirected by Heidi Wittlinger, Germany, 1 minuteA wild convertible driver shows no mercy in this cutting edge animation dedicated to children’s rights. Screening times: Auckland Wellington Christchurch RespireDirected by Stephane Hamache, Jerome Combe, & Andre Bessy, France. 3 minutesA futuristic view of a child’s playground in this 3D animated video clip created for a French rock band. An environmental wake up call. Screening times: Auckland Wellington Christchurch Singapore Rebel26 minutes, SingaporeThis is the film Singapore’s censorship board doesn’t want people to see. It’s the story of opposition politician Chee Soon Juan, who has been imprisoned twice for championing democratic change in the tightlycontrolled city state. The censors declared it a “party political film” and it was pulled from last month’s Singapore International Film Festival line-up after the director was warned he could face two years in jail if the screening went ahead. Directed by Martyn See. Screening times: Auckland Wellington |
