Anarchism in America
Documentary
1983
75 min
-
A colorful and provocative survey of anarchism in America, the film attempts to dispel popular misconceptions and trace the historical development of the movement. The film explores the movement both as a native American philosophy stemming from 19th century American traditions of individualism, and as a foreign ideology brought to America by immigrants. The film features rare archival footage and interviews with significant personalities in anarchist history including Murray Boochkin and Karl Hess, and also live performance footage of the Dead Kennedys.
Starring:
Documentary
AD
Community ReviewsSee all
"interesting look at the anarchist movements of the 18th, 19th, and 20th century. a lot of differing opinions on what anarchism is (one guy identifies himself as right-wing and just won't pay his taxes, others center self-sufficient communes and worker-owned businesses, still others focus on protesting police, foreign policy, and political discrimination--which is interesting, because nobody talks much about the political prisoner side of the holocaust). it's a very underfunded 80's documentary. really enjoyed the soundtrack of dead kennedys and king short shirt.
personally, while i wouldn't consider myself an anarchist, i do feel solidarity towards the leftist side of the movement, and enjoyed learning about the jewish, russian, and italian roots of the 19th/early 20th century movement. less impressed by the respectability politics and laissez-faire capitalism of the libertarians interviewed, and anybody who looks up to thomas jefferson or ayn rand :p."
Marsh
