Hey guys,
So here are the links to both of Pare Lorentz government films. I'm interested to see what everybody thinks of them. If you've got some spare time you should definitely check them out (at least finish The River). Like I mentioned in class, I'm really interested in the way that Lorentz both celebrates and criticizes the US in terms of industrialism. Lorentz obviously is a fan of Roosevelt. Maybe he is trying to criticize the way that things have been done in the past to show how great things will be now that Roosevelt is president. Almost as if to say, "Yeah, America is great and always has been great, but look how things got screwed up. We didn't pay attention to the environment and now we're paying the price. Fear not, however! President Roosevelt is here to save the day! His New Deal will put administrations like the Tennessee Vally Authority into place who will make our lives better and turn back some of the damage we've done."
I'm interested to see what the rest of you think about this. Also, if you have anything to say about The Plow That Broke the Plains I'd be interested as well to hear it.
The Plow That Broke the Plains: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2taApjVSogQ
The River: http://www.youtube.com/user/FDRLibrary#p/search/1/fpz0XI6U97U
I certainly think it is noteworthy that the film takes a critical look at some of the U.S. agricultural/forestry practices and their consequences. Especially considering that this was funded by the government...
ReplyDeleteWhat's amazing to me about the River, and the Plow that Broke the Plains, is the way social activism is combined with the art of film, with the poetry of words, with the power of music, and with government sponsorship. I am also astounded by the extent to which these activist filmmakers/artists connected with each other, either in terms of influence (Eisenstein/Grierson) or actual work together (Ivens and a a cast of hundreds).
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