HBO is airing a pro-Nepalese Maoist documentary

[The Vegan Marxist]

Tomorrow - August 18 - at 8pm (my time, not sure your time). Tune in comrades & tape this. Make copies on the internet. Do what you need to do to distribute this out to the public.

http://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2010/08/16/woman-rebel/


Woman Rebel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH3ieQHHW1E&feature=player_embedded

“Woman Rebel” will be shown on HBO—of all places—on August 18 at 8pm and repeated on August 26 at 11:45am. This 45 minute documentary on “Silu”, a battalion commander of the Nepalese Maoist guerrillas, is a reminder that other television networks have stepped in to fill the void created by PBS after the Bush administration turned it into an arm of the “war on terror”. Sadly, but not unexpectedly, shows like Frontline and POV continue to serve the war aims of an out of control national security state.

HBO, the home of Tony Soprano and Larry David, has shown its mettle by airing a sympathetic documentary about one of the world’s least covered liberation movements. Even for an unrepentant Marxist like me, this glimpse into the motives and personality of a woman warrior was eye-opening. Except for the written word, my only exposure to the Nepalese freedom-fighters has been an altogether charming rendition of The Internationale on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAxz0ECZ-Lo&feature=player_embedded

Silu was born Uma Bhujel into a desperately poor farming family in the Gorkha District, where her father worked the fields of a rich landlord. Her sister Kumari was married off at the age of 12 to a man who beat her constantly. After finding life intolerable, she went off into the woods and hung herself. Uma joined the Maoists at the age of 18 and rose to the level of commander. After the Maoists entered the peaceful and legal political arena, she became a representative to the constituent assembly.

She tells her story in a soft-spoken and undramatic fashion, allowing the power of her story itself to draw the listener in. In some ways, she reminds me very much of Rigoberta Menchu, the Guatemalan indigenous peasant leader who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992.

While Silu was fighting to topple the monarchy, her brother was serving in the Royal Army. Her brother, mother and father are interviewed as well. One of the most affecting moments in the film involves Silu telling the interviewer what she would have done if she had come face to face with her brother in combat. It takes three cuts for her to compose herself sufficiently to say that she would have had to follow her party’s agenda, even if that meant fratricide. Considering what happened to her sister, it is understandable why Maoist rebels, including the forty percent of the ranks who were women, would not let anything get in their way.

Kudos to HBO for scheduling this hard-hitting documentary and kudos as well to director Kiran Deol, a young female film-maker who demonstrates once again that the greatest drama today is found in real-life rather than in fiction.

[Raúl Duke]

Sounds interesting.

[Red Commissar]

I don't subscribe to HBO, won't be able to catch this though I'd be interested in seeing impressions of it later.

[Saorsa]

Someone needs to record this and put it online.

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Someone needs to record this and put it online.
This.

[Buffalo Souljah]

aboveI've started a Facebook events group (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=140626122643446), for anyone who is wanting to join. I've additionally sent invitations to all of my friends,I suggest you all do the same:this is not an opportunity to be missed*!!!!

*(think: internal contradictions of capitalism ; P)

[theblackmask]

Who the fuck can afford HBO? :D

[Saorsa]

How does the TV system work in the US? Do you have to pay to subscribe to specific channels? How much free-to-air TV do you get?

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Most people get access through cable or satellite, which you have to pay for on a monthly basis. On top of that, you can purchase "packages" which give you access to other channels or special services (e.g. "Starz package" to get the various Starz channels, "China package" to get Chinese-language channels; "league pass" to watch all pro basketball games), premium channels (e.g. HBO, though you can also get HBO in a package with the various HBO channels like HBO Family, HBO3, etc.), and pay-per-view and on-demand programs (movies, sporting events, etc., that you pay to watch once or for 24 hours, or what have you).

There are a few networks that still broadcast "over the air" that you can pick up with an antenna (I think you call them aerials in NZ). But analog TV has been replaced with DTV. People who can't afford cable or satellite often have to rely on this, but it usually means you can't watch much of anything. My grandpa has a massive electric antenna and can only receive 3 or 4 channels (and only one of those comes in well).

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

On the switch from analog to DTV:

"In the United States, high-power over-the-air broadcasts are solely in the ATSC digital format since June 11, 2009, the date that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) set for the end of all high-power analog TV transmissions. As a result, almost two million households could no longer watch TV because they were not prepared for the transition or no signal was available any longer." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_television

For a pretty good rundown of the development of cable TV, how cable/satellite subscriptions work, etc.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_in_the_United_States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_in_the_United_States)

[Devrim]

Most people get access through cable or satellite, which you have to pay for on a monthly basis.

How much does it cost roughly. For example in Ankara, cable, which I don't have, costs about $4.50 a month.

Devrim

[Tablo]

Depending on which cable package it can cost anywhere from like $30-$70. It can vary based on where you live though.

[DecDoom]

How much does it cost roughly. For example in Ankara, cable, which I don't have, costs about $4.50 a month.

Devrim

I'm not sure if this is an average, but for me, it costs about $58 a month, not including internet.

[Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk]

If someone can get this onto youtube, available in the UK, it would be most appreciated. Looks like an important film.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Having lived in many parts of the United States I would say that basic cable costs on average around $50 monthly.

Depending on where you live, you can usually get a cable/phone/internet package for around $100.

[Os Cangaceiros]

There are a few networks that still broadcast "over the air" that you can pick up with an antenna (I think you call them aerials in NZ). But analog TV has been replaced with DTV. People who can't afford cable or satellite often have to rely on this, but it usually means you can't watch much of anything. My grandpa has a massive electric antenna and can only receive 3 or 4 channels (and only one of those comes in well).

I think it depends if you live in a city or not...I bought a shitty 10 dollar digital antenna at Best Buy, and I get about 14 channels (although seven of them are in Spanish).

Hell, even when I lived on the farthest eastern tip of Long Island, where there's absolutely nothing, I still got four channels (all of them coming from Rhode Island/Massachusettes).

[RadioRaheem84]

Does HBO have a live online podcast?

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

I think it depends if you live in a city or not...I bought a shitty 10 dollar digital antenna at Best Buy, and I get about 14 channels (although seven of them are in Spanish).

Hell, even when I lived on the farthest eastern tip of Long Island, where there's absolutely nothing, I still got four channels (all of them coming from Rhode Island/Massachusettes).

It probably has a lot to do with geography too. As a child I lived in a mountainous region and so could receive only 3 or 4 channels when we couldn't afford to pay the cable bill, despite living less than 10 miles from the center of one of the largest cities in the country.

[The Vegan Marxist]

I don't know the specific prices here, but it shouldn't cost too much. The only person working in my family at the moment is my step-father, & he only works for AT&T with shit pay. It keeps food, clothing, housing, & a decent television program. I know a bunch of people that gets lots of money & get HBO, Showtime, Starz, etc. We can only get HBO. I never watch TV anyways, only my step-dad & brothers. Me & my mom prefers solely movies, which is where HBO comes in handy at times.

[Rusty Shackleford]

just be careful. HBO is one of those companies that love to enforce intellectual property rights.

that being said. i cant do it. i only have internet.

[Leaf]

Post here if anyone one can find it/post it on the internet. Sounds like a good format to be introduced to the situation in Nepal. I definitely can't get HBO as I am in Australia XP

[leftace53]

I run on basic cable when I crash at my parents' place, and no cable at my place, so you know, if someone internet links this it would be appreciated :)

Seems like an interesting documentary, I'm fairly surprised as to anyone in North America airing anything vaguely leftist.

[AK]

There are a few networks that still broadcast "over the air" that you can pick up with an antenna (I think you call them aerials in NZ). But analog TV has been replaced with DTV. People who can't afford cable or satellite often have to rely on this, but it usually means you can't watch much of anything. My grandpa has a massive electric antenna and can only receive 3 or 4 channels (and only one of those comes in well).
Really? Here in Australia I get something like 15 free to air HD digital channels.

[black magick hustla]

It probably has a lot to do with geography too. As a child I lived in a mountainous region and so could receive only 3 or 4 channels when we couldn't afford to pay the cable bill, despite living less than 10 miles from the center of one of the largest cities in the country.

lots of mexicans dont have cable. its not that bad. ive done the cableless thing before and i received about 10 channels. i could watch my fav. shows like dragon ball z too. there was cable at my house but we had a really old television too that was unplugged.

[DunyaGongrenKomRevolyutsi]

Watching any colour TV costs £12.12 p/m here by virtue of the TV license. Other than that cable & internet from virgin costs £18 p/m on top (which is pretty much the cheapest option apart from Freeview).

[mykittyhasaboner]

Someone needs to record this and put it online.

How would one go about doing this? You would probably need some kind of cables that fit into the cable box and convert them to a usb or something to get on a pc. I'm interested in trying, but I'm stummped.


just be careful. HBO is one of those companies that love to enforce intellectual property rights.

It would seem that once its available, you can purchase public or performance rights for the film. Either way I don't think it should be much of a problem.

http://womanrebelfilm.com/

At the bottom it says it.

[Saorsa]

You could always be old school and film the screen of your TV from a video camera.

[mykittyhasaboner]

You could always be old school and film the screen of your TV from a video camera.

Alas, I have HBO, but not a video camera. :lol:

[fa2991]

Anyone have a link yet?

[Lolshevik]

Please someone say yes!