Activism on Screen and on the Mark

Eight Movies to Inspire Saving Democracy

Every picture tells a story, but when Hollywood tackles politics, some stories are inspiring, others cynical.  What activist will come away upbeat from watching “Wag the Dog” or “The Candidate?”

Steering clear of cynicism, the Grassroots Connector offers a list of inspiring “activist” movies.  All will send you back to work with democracy in mind.  (And all but a few were directed by women.)

1.  “Knock Down the House” — Back before Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was AOC, her quixotic 2018 campaign for a House seat was captured in this 2019 documentary.  The film sets out to follow four female challengers from the primaries onward.  But when the first three are defeated, AOC becomes the star and the rest is history, history that won awards at Sundance and elsewhere.  On Youtube.

2.  "Bending Hell" — This brief documentary tells the story of an older black man and a young woman who run for City Council in Meadville, PA —  and win.  Along with victory, the film offers”Six Steps to Bending Hell,” a "how-to" guide for ordinary people organizing for political power in their own communities.  Official website.

3.  “No” — This Oscar-nominated Chilean drama speaks to the power of positive thinking.  In 1988, when Chileans prepared for a plebiscite on the brutal Pinochet regime, an ad-man rejected the initial campaign based on atrocities and promoted upbeat, pro-democracy ads that won the day.  Official website.

4.  “Heather Booth – Changing the World” – From the Civil Rights era to anti-MAGA resistance, Heather Booth has been in the front lines of activism.  This 2016 documentary profiles “the most influential organizer you never heard of.”  Website.

5.  “Iron-Jawed Angels” - In 1910, after 62 years of marches and protest, the suffragette movement was revived by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns.  Their masterful campaign of lobbying and targeted protest finally won the vote, but not before the “angels” suffered jail, hunger strikes, and worse.  This 2004 drama was nominated for five Emmys and three Golden Globes.  On MAX.

6.  “Freedom on My Mind” — with the 60th anniversary of Mississippi’s Freedom Summer approaching, today’s activists can learn a thing or two from SNCC.  This Oscar-nominated documentary details how the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee master-minded voting rights campaigns, survived savage violence, and rallied sharecroppers into a major movement.  On MAX.

7.  “How to Change the World” — In 1972, a ragtag group of Canadian environmentalists set out to stop a nuclear test in Alaska.  From this initial action came Greenpeace, whose daring and innovative tactics upended decades of complacency about whales, the environment, and the planet.  Website.

8.  “How to Survive a Plague” — In the late 1980s, as AIDS devastated the gay community, as politicians stone-walled and doctors delayed, members of ACT-UP and TAG threw their lives into the fray.  This 2012 documentary features protests, marches, and behind-the-scenes planning that changed attitudes and saved lives.  Official Website.

We'd like to hear what movies inspired you.  If you have favorites not listed here, please put them in the comments.  

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