John Gianvito's brilliantly imaginative documentary celebrates four centuries of American rebellion by taking viewers on a wordless tour of the monuments and gravesites of the brave men and women who dared (and often failed) to challenge the governing status quo. Inspired by the work of populist historian Howard Zinn, the film reveals that American history is poorly recorded at many locations: the site of the Boston Massacre, for instance, is an unnoted circle at the edge of a busy Beantown thoroughfare, while markers highlighting the locations of the Stono Rebellion, the Homestead Strike, and other dramatic revolts are isolated along highways and railroad tracks. The monuments and gravesites honoring Native American resistance, slave rebellions, abolitionists, feminists, and other activists are mournfully inept. Granted, some are elaborate, such as the monument to Cesar Chavez (complete with fountains) and Fannie Lou Hamer, but most consist of either simple markers sunk into the grass or quotidian tombstones that offer no clue about the greatness of those who lie in rest. The soundtrack consists almost solely of open air sounds—wind rustling through trees, singing birds, and traffic drone—until the film's conclusion, in which modern protest demonstrations carry on the tradition of previous generations. A powerful experimental film that asks viewers to stop and consider how America memorializes (or doesn't) its rebellious heroes—ranging from the famous Haymarket Riot to the relatively unsung Frank Little or Uriah Smith—this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)
Profit Motive & The Whispering Wind
(2007) 58 min. DVD or VHS: $99.95: public libraries; $350: colleges & universities. The Cinema Guild. PPR. ISBN: 0-7815-1252-2 (dvd). Volume 23, Issue 5
Profit Motive & The Whispering Wind
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