Well, it is once again DOCday on the Sundance Channel. Today was full of documentaries - good and bad.


First up was An Act Of Conscience directed by Robbie Leppzer. It premiered at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival and tells the story of a Massachussetts couple that stopped paying their taxes to protest military spending. After 12 years of not paying their share, the government seized their house and sold it at auction. The film is the story of the hippy group of friends that 'occupied' the house and property for nearly two years while the couple that bought the house attempted to have them removed. It is a story of legal battles and moral battles. As a director, Leppzer does an excellent job of telling the story. While decidedly slanted in the favor of the tax protestors - he does give the other sides to the story. It was interesting, but certainly didn't glue one to the screen.

RATING 6 out of 10

I missed most of the shows today because I was busy - Lifting the Veil was a disturbing one that I did catch later in the evening. It was about the women in Afghanistan. It chronicled the execution of a woman who was shot in front of the public in the now-infamous soccer pitch where the Taliban has carried out numerous executions. The filmmaker set out to find the 7 orphans of the murdered woman who was executed because she covered up for her daughter that killed her abusive husband. Because early in the war, the mother was raped by Taliban soldiers, she was deemed an 'immoral whore' and thus guilty. It goes on to explain that girls that are raped by soldiers are considered worthless and their own families kick them out on their own. Most of the women interviewed like the idea of new rights and education, but admit it was safer under the Taliban - now, they say, there is no law and order and everyone has to fend for themselves.
RATING 7 out of 10

When the War is Over is a film I had seen before so I didn't really watch it too closely. It is the story of anti-apartheid rebels that struggle to find a place in a peaceful society after apartheid. Young soldiers that grew up on violence and death now have to deal with things like warring street gangs and illegal drug wars. It is interesting but overdone in some areas.
RATING 6 out of 10

- posted by Chris @ 1:08 PM