Hi Marc
Such films are definitely in the minority in the independent sector, in its
most familiar 'indie' version, especially. Some of the best examples are
found in the black filmmaking of the so-called Los Angeles School, from the
1970s onwards: most explicitly, films by Haile Gerima (made in the US) such
as Bush Mama and Ashes and Embers, which only received marginal
distribution. These offer pretty directly polemical interventions, combined
with fictional narratives, which is uncommon. They're about the only
examples I know that really do this. Explicitly political films tend to be
documentaries (Emile De Antonio's films, especially, such as In the Year of
the Pig, which can be seen as a forerunner of Michael Moore; also some
earlier examples, the likes Native Land, a documentary-fiction mix, from
1942).
Narrative-fiction independent films often offer implicit critiques of
aspects of American society (examples from Gummo to Happiness), but more in
the way of denying the usual reconciliatory/escapist fantasies of Hollywood
than in presenting any alternative or any explicit challenge. They tend to
go for individual-centred approaches, which limits their ability to deal
with causal factors, in particular. The same can be said of Sayles, though;
he often denies simplistic solutions, but tends to work within indie
variants of more mainstream practices (Matewan, for example, relies heavily
on melodrama and western-genre ingredients as a vehicle for the expression
of a political point). This is something I explore in my forthcoming book
American Independent Cinema, due out in January. Well, I had to give myself
a plug!
cheers
geoff
geoff king
brunel university
london
Date: Sun, 17 Oct 2004 23:04:56 +0200
From: Marc Hallbrecht <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: political independent film
Hi there,
I'm looking for US-independent-films which significantly are
counter-hegemonic or challenge the status-quo, especially with regard to
questions of class, poverty or structural violence (like the films of John
Sayles).
Any suggestions are very very welcome...thank you!
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