March 14: Rebel Diaz Reportback on Venezuela; Sunday films: Cuban Women; Mariela Castro's LGBT Revolution; Pilger's Coming War on China; Kill the Messenger
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Rebel Diaz Reportback on Grassroots Strategies in Venezuela
just back from Venezuela
Tuesday March 14 6 pm
DePaul University SAC 204
Loyola Political Film Series
Sundays, 2pm
Loyola University (downtown)
Corboy Law Center, room 301, 25 E. Pearson Street, Chicago
(one block north of Chicago & State Red line L stop)
March 12 Federation of Cuban Women film 2006 63m
Charting the progress of women in Cuba, this film With Our Memory on the Future has two parts: pre-revolutionary Cuba and the early years of the Revolution, followed by women in today’s Cuba. Made to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) the film looks at the “revolution within a revolution,” showing the grassroots campaigns and initiatives that led to huge progress being made. Interwoven into this are clips of men talking on the streets, which show some of the ‘machismo’ of old Cuba.
In the second half people on the street are asked what they think of women’s position in Cuba today. Themes include divorce, sex before marriage, domestic duties, gender roles and responsibilities. The film examines all areas of life: workplace, legal system, education, health, and sports, all in the context of gender relations. The film is not afraid to show prejudiced and traditional views and clearly state that there is still much to be done but Cuba is most definitely on the right path.
March 19 Mariela Castro's March: Cuba's LGBT Revolution 2015 39m
All Guantanamo is Ours 2015 37 min
Cuba’s LGBT community finds itself in the midst of a new struggle -- the fight for equality. A leader of this struggle is Mariela Castro, daughter of President Raúl Castro and a member of Cuba’s National Assembly. The film follows Castro and her LGBT supporters as they spread their message of respect for diversity across the country. The documentary spotlights gay, lesbian and trans activists through revealing stories of pain, love, strength and perseverance. The documentary introduces a variety of gay, lesbian and transgender Cubans who tell their stories in the weeks leading up to a celebratory Gala Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
Mariela Castro is the director of CENESEX, the Cuban National Center for Sex Education, is president of the National Commission for Treatment of Disturbances of Gender Identity, director of the journal Sexology and Society (Sexologia y Sociedad).
All Guantanamo is Ours shows the perspective of the Cuban people, in particular those living in the towns around Guantanamo, about the illegal occupation of the U.S. Naval Base. The film is unique in revealing what the occupation looked like before and after the revolution. The protagonists in this documentary are the people living there who with their voices denounce this injustice convinced that one day that territory will be returned to Cuba.
Josefina Vidal, Ministry of Foreign Relations General Director for the United States explained the significance of Guantanamo. “The occupation of the Naval Base is illegal and it is occupied against the will of the government and the people of Cuba who since 1959 have been demanding its return. That is why until Cuba can recuperate Guantanamo’s total sovereignty and control we will not be able to say that there are normal relations between Cuba and the United States.”
March 26 The Coming War on China 2016 113 min
This is the latest film by John Pilger. He says:
“Under Obama, the greatest build-up of NATO forces since the Second World War was under way on the western borders of Russia. On the other side of the world, the rise of China as the world’s second economic power is viewed in Washington as another ‘threat’ to American dominance. To counter this, in 2011, President Obama announced a ‘pivot to Asia’, which meant that almost two-thirds of all US naval forces would be transferred to Asia and the Pacific, their weapons aimed at China.
Today, some 400 American military bases encircle China with missiles, bombers, warships and nuclear weapons. They form an arc from Australia north through the Pacific to Japan, Korea and across Eurasia to Afghanistan and India. It is, says one US strategist, ‘the perfect noose’. It is largely this fear of an economic blockade that has seen China building airstrips on disputed islands and reefs in the South China Sea.”
More: http://thecomingwarmovie.com/about
April 2 Kill the Messenger 2014 112 min
Based on the true story of journalist Gary Webb, a precursor of Julian Assange and Edward Snowden. The film takes place in the mid-1990s, when Webb uncovered the CIA's past role in importing huge amounts of cocaine into the U.S. that was aggressively sold in ghettos across the country, creating the crack epidemic. The CIA used the sales to raise money for the Nicaraguan Contras' rebel army. Despite enormous pressure not to, Webb chose to pursue the story and went public with his evidence, publishing the series "Dark Alliance". As a result he experienced a vicious smear campaign fueled by the CIA. At that point Webb found himself defending his integrity, his family, and his career. Eventually he was driven to suicide.
Sponsors: Loyola University Department of Sociology, Chicago ALBA Solidarity Committee
For more information: [email protected], Stan Smith 773-322-3168