The anarchist movement was a reaction to the Industrial Revolution of the mid-19th century, which was characterized by backbreaking labor, long work hours, unsafe working conditions, low wages, and child labor. Filmmaker Tancrède Ramonet's three-part documentary series examines the rise and decline of anarchism, from its birth in France to its crushing defeat during the 1930s Spanish Civil War. The film notes the profound disillusionment with the status quo that led to a belief that the government, capital markets, and church were all corrupt and needed to be destroyed. In its early days, the general strike was a favorite tactic, but anarchists later adopted more violent methods, creating the image of bomb-throwing, wild-eyed radicals who were bent on bloodshed and assassination. Action was always met with equally violent reaction, ranging from government army crackdowns to the use of private police forces, and strike-breaking thugs. The documentary covers anarchism as an immigrant issue, the rise of trade unions, and the role of women, notably Emma Goldman, once known as the most dangerous woman in America. In the 1890s and beyond, anarchism was marked by terrorist bombings, unfair trials, the post-World War I "Red Scare," police raids, and the cause of Sacco and Vanzetti, who were railroaded and executed on trumped-up charges of bank robbery. Anarchists could hold positions on a wide range of human behavior, celebrating nudity, free love, and open marriage, and in some cases seeking to liberate children from the soul-deadening effects of public education. Considerable time is devoted here to the Mexican revolution, agrarian reform, and the Spanish Civil War, in which groups like the Abraham Lincoln Brigade rushed to the barricades in a losing cause. Although the frantic pace of names and events is sometimes confusing, political junkies and history buffs will appreciate. Extras include bonus footage featuring an interview with Noam Chomsky, and a booklet. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)
No Gods, No Masters: A History of Anarchism in Three Parts
(2016) 156 min. In English, German & French w/English subtitles. DVD: $34.98. Icarus Films Home Video (available from most distributors). Closed captioned. Volume 33, Issue 2
No Gods, No Masters: A History of Anarchism in Three Parts
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