Rebel Films Spring 2016 Schedule
Location: 252 Bloor Street West, above the St. George Subway Station [map]. See the table below for the room numbers.
Donation: $4 or PWYC.
Click here for the poster..
Friday, March 11 – 7 p.m. OISE 5-260
Suffragette
[2015, 1 hour 46 minutes]
In early 20th-century Britain, the growing women’s suffrage movement forever changes the life of working wife and mother Maud Watts (Carey Mulligan). Galvanized by political activist Emmeline Pankhurst (Meryl Streep), Watts joins a diverse group of women who fight for equality and the right to vote. 2016 marks the centenary of women winning the right to vote in Canada (specifically in Manitoba).
Co-founder of the Ontario Coalition of Abortion Clinics, long-time March 8 IWD Committee organizer and socialist feminist Cherie MacDonald will lead off the discussion period.
Friday, March 18 – 7 p.m. OISE 5-260
Plutocracy: Political Repression in the U.S.A.
[2015, 1h 50 min]
A comprehensive examination of early American history through a class perspective lens. This film focuses on the the ways in which the American people have historically been divided on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex and skill level. Includes sections on Mother Jones, the American Constitution; the Civil War draft riots; Reconstruction; Industrialization; the evolution of the police; the robber barons; early American labor unions; and major mid-to-late 19th Century labor events including the uprising of 1877, the Haymarket Affair, the Homestead strike and the New Orleans General Strike. The introduction examines the West Virginian coal wars of the early 20th Century, culminating in the Battle of Blair Mountain.
Julius Arscott, President of OPSEU Local 532 and a leading member of Socialist Action, will open the discussion.
Thursday, March 24 – 7 p.m. OISE 2-289
Trumbo
[2015, 2h 4 minutes]
In 1947, Dalton Trumbo (Bryan Cranston) was Hollywood’s top screenwriter until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs. TRUMBO recounts how Dalton used words and wit to win two Academy Awards and expose the absurdity and injustice of the blacklist, which entangled everyone from gossip columnist Hedda Hopper (Helen Mirren) to John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Otto Preminger.
John Wunderlich, long time NDP activist, socialist and privacy advocate will comment on the film to start the conversation.
Friday, April 1 – 7 p.m. OISE 5-260
The Price We Pay
[2014, 1h 33 minutes]
The Price We Pay blows the lid off the dirty world of corporate malfeasance with this incendiary documentary about the dark history and dire present-day reality of big-business tax avoidance, which has seen multinationals depriving governments of trillions of dollars in tax revenues by harboring profits in offshore havens. Tax havens, originally created by London bankers in the 50s, today put over half the world’s stock of money beyond reach of public treasuries.
John Orrett, retired fire chief, President of Thornhill NDP Socialist Caucus steering committee member will open the discussion.
No film on April 8.
Friday, April 15 – 7 p.m. OISE 5-260
The Big Short
[2015, 2h 10 minutes]
In 2008, Wall Street guru Michael Burry realizes that a number of subprime home loans were in danger of defaulting. Burry bets against the housing market by throwing more than $1 billion of his investors’ money into credit default swaps. His actions attract the attention of banker Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling), hedge-fund specialist Mark Baum (Steve Carell) and other greedy opportunists. Together, these men make a fortune by taking full advantage of the impending economic collapse in America.
Barry Weisleder, co-editor of SocialistAction newspaper and chair of the NDP Socialist Caucus will make a presentation to open the discussion.
Friday, April 22 – 7 p.m. OISE 5-260
Ukraine, Masks of the Revolution
[2016, 52 min.]
In February 2014, paramilitary groups fought against the police in the streets of Kiev and ousted President Yanukovych. They imposed a new government. According to western media, they were heroes. But they are actually extreme-right militias, heavily armed. The Right Sector, Azov or Svoboda created parallel irregular forces that easily got out of control. In Odessa, in May 2014, they were responsible for a mass killing without facing any charges. 45 people burnt to death. Why have western democracies not raised a voice in protest? Is it because these Ukrainian nationalist militias actually played a significant role in a larger war. The Ukrainian revolution was strongly supported by US diplomacy. In the new cold war that pits Russia against the USA, Ukraine is in contention. This film by Paul Moreira sheds light on this dark corner of world politics.
To lead off the discussion is Konstantin Goulich, a long time observer of political events in Russia, Ukraine and the former Soviet Union.