The opening shots of Metz’s film illustrate that some things never change. As you watch the scenes of contemporary protests juxtaposed with Petra Kelly speaking at a 1985 student conference in New York, you note both the passage of time and the enduring legacy of nonviolent action.
One of the founders of Germany’s Green Party, Kelly’s life is told through archival footage of her appearances and interviews as well as recollections from various colleagues, friends, and her half-brother. Given the sheer number of clips of demonstrations and activist gatherings, this woman seemed to be everywhere all the time. Though environmentalism was her biggest focus, no humanitarian cause was too big or too small. She championed women’s rights and civil rights and fought for peace and nuclear disarmament.
A whip-smart individual, one TV host in 1982 commented on the high speed at which Kelly spoke and wondered whether she was afraid of running out of time. Her fear was that there was so much work to be done and so many problems to solve, and valuable time was being expended as they sat there chatting away. In her brief forty-four years on the earth she cared so deeply about, her number of accomplishments was extraordinary.
But this important work was not without personal risk. Kelly was threatened and harassed incessantly throughout the seventies and eighties, including by members of the LaRouche movement. There were various incidents of public heckling and cornering, in any place from airports to speaking venues to restrooms and even her hotel rooms. She’d received plenty of hate mail, including, ominously, packages of bloody clothing. Some of this mail was boldly (compared to today’s practice of anonymous comment lurking) signed and addressed with the sender’s real name and location. At that time, proper protections were not in place for outspoken women like her, and help from authorities was limited.
Kelly gave everything of herself, often to the detriment of her own health. Due to the threats, she was afraid of being alone and was prone to fainting spells and panic attacks. While mystery lingers over the true reasons behind her death, she was shot and killed by her longtime companion, activist Gert Bastian, in 1992 before turning the gun on himself.
Kelly said early in the film that “rubble women”—her mother and grandmother—raised her. Rubble women helped clear away the destruction and debris after World War II. Such a designation suggests Kelly’s admiration for the strength of these women, and that they were a primary source of her own hardiness and endless energy. The presence of her mother and grandmother at her funeral made for a profoundly sad and poignant moment. At the end of the film, Milo Yellow Hair, a fellow activist and friend of Kelly’s, bids her “Go in peace.”
Activists and ecofeminists alike will feel both encouraged and validated in their pursuits of making the world a better place. Recommended.
Which library audiences would benefit from screening this ecofeminism film?
Library programming would service the community by screening this film, whether their viewer is a loud and proud activist, an introverted, behind-the-scenes worker bee, or someone who’s considering involvement and simply wants to learn more.
What academic subjects or media education courses would benefit from this ecofeminism film?
This documentary would be a valuable addition to educational spaces teaching with films related to subjects including activism, feminism, environmentalism, sustainability, ecofeminism, as well as women’s contributions to political, environmental, and social justice causes through peaceful, nonviolent action.
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