NEXT SCREENING: Saturday December 9, 2023
Saturday December 9, 2023
Film: 13th. 2016. 100 mins.
The 13th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution abolished slavery. But it also included a provision many people don’t know about and that is what this documentary brings to view. “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist.” That exception justifies the use of forced labor as long as the laborer is a convict. This documentary makes the case that inclusion of this loophole is only one of the justifications for continuing domination of people of color. The 13th Amendment was ratified in 1865 and director Ava DuVernay supports her thesis through the use of both historical footage and interviews. Film clips of former President Richard Nixon call for ‘Law & Order’ which has resulted in exploding prison populations. The U. S. only has 5% of the world’s population but has 25% of the world’s prisoners. This Law & Order policy enabled government to imprison blacks. John Ehrlichman was Assistant to President Nixon for Domestic Affairs: “Did we know we were lying? Of course we did.” The documentary makes the case that those drug busts, Jim Crow laws and segregation are all variations of domination of black America. Currently the ‘Prison/Industrial Complex’ is just a new version of the same old problem. Here DuVernay returns to the 13th Amendment and makes the case that the system cannot be dealt with by making small changes. The system itself has to be rebuilt (imbd.com)
Saturday December 16, 2023
In Search of Santa Claus. 2019. 50 mins.
He’s one of the most widely recognized figures in the world; but how did St. Nicholas become Santa Claus? This documentary sorts the myths from the facts about the first multinational saint, revered by the Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox churches alike. Witness the transformation of a holy man from Turkey into a worldwide symbol of Christmas cheer (youtube.com)
Explorers from the Titanic to the Moon: Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong & James Cameron. 2006. 50 mins
James Cameron and Buzz Aldrin plunge us into a universe of unforgettable images. Risking their own lives, they pursue their passions by reaching into the unknown. Follow these two legendary men on two epic voyages. I have Titanic, Olympic, Queen Mary, Ocean Liner, and other interesting Historical documentaries. It is a passion of mine to share the amazing Titanic story for the generations to come (youtube.com)
