[Reellife] Long Distance Revolutionary

Tue Mar 5 10:16:44 PST 2013

Wow.

I just went to Calgary to see a "Movie that Matters <http://moviesthatmatter.org>."

/Long Distance Revolutionary/ <http://www.mumia-themovie.com> is a brand new 
documentary about Mumia Abu Jamal's life as a journalist and Black Panther Party 
member.  It's jam-packed full of facts and info about American politics, 
spanning the whole sordid history of the country but of course focused on the 
past 58 years of which Mumia has been alive. He's been in prison for the past 32 
years, almost all of it in solitary confinement.

The DVD to be released this summer will have a supplementary video on the legal 
background and injustices that has kept Mumia in prison more than half his life.

But this film consciously avoids much of the legal legacy of this man.  Instead, 
it highlights the enormous struggle and talent he has undertaken and unleashed, 
to become a widely heard and deeply respected voice...a voice of the voiceless.

Mumia has not only provided those us not yet caught in the snare of the North 
American Prison-Industrial Complex with a glimpse of life in these modern day 
gulags, he has shone the light of truth on everyday events, especially those 
associated with the US government.

Prominent right wing commentators call his work (usually in the form of audio 
essays, but Mumia writes and has published many books...all in long hand!) 
propaganda and one-sided but I loved how the filmmakers exposed two of these 
folks with their own words.

Mumia researches topics to death (sorry for the choice of words) and it shows in 
his work.  These right wingers boldly proclaim, however, that they don't need to 
read or listen to any of his work to know how biased it is.  And yes, these are 
well-read, mainstream journalists whom I shall not honour with names.  You can 
see the film to see the ones exposed and the ones who declined interviews.

As the film points out, imagine writing and researching /anything/ these days 
without a computer and the Internet.  Mumia has been doing it with serious 
restrictions to accessing any information and he's never been on the 'net!

The scene that tore me apart was when his young daughter, about the same age as 
mine, came to visit him and was denied all physical contact.  Mumia has only 
been able to brush (at most) the skin of his jailers for over 30 years.  Gulag 
is a gross understatement.

But through it all, he clearly has not only survived, but must have awakened and 
become enlightened as well.  His love pours out of every phone call and 
interview despite his intense confinement and until this past year, constant 
threat of death.

I can't tell you how grateful I am to the filmmakers for crafting this riveting 
film.  Mumia's life and work has influenced so many of us and the film does 
great justice to his inspiring spirit.  My only complaint is that the woman who 
has been instrumental in getting his voice and work out from behind bars, Noelle 
Hanrahan, is barely mentioned.

Stephen Vittoria, the writer, editor and director, explained that since Noelle 
co-produced the film, she wanted the film to be mostly silent about her work in 
recording and distributing Mumia's commentaries, in order to avoid using the 
film for self-promotion. However, I know from my work as a volunteer radio 
producer, Noelle has been tireless in creating the foundations necessary for 
ensuring Mumia's voice continues to be heard despite what the authorities try 
and do.  She created Prison Radio <http://prisonradio.org> which started with 
Mumia and has included a diversity of other voices of the voiceless over the 
many, many years of just scratching by.

I was also impressed by the folks in Calgary that not only arranged for this 
Canadian Premiere, but also linked us up to Stephen Vittoria for a post 
screening Q&A.  NUTV is a University of Calgary based community TV station and 
video production facility that has programmed a monthly documentary series 
called Movies that Matter <http://moviesthatmatter.org> since 2002 that gives 
all entrance donations to the Campus Food Bank.

NUTV also hosts an annual Arts Festival called Greenlite which draws attention 
to the ecological challenges the planet faces.  A fully-supported 48hr ecoFilm 
Challenge has helped many first-time filmmakers and their photo contest is open 
to all.  If you'd like to enter, check out nutv.ca/greenlite 
<http://nutv.ca/greenlite> and hurry, it starts very soon!

My butt is starting to ache as I write this on the bus back to the wet coast, so 
I'm not going to encourage you to go out of your way to attend, but you won't be 
disappointed and your likely to be inspired greatly if you do attend one of the 
upcoming screenings of
/Long Distance Revolutionary/ <http://www.mumia-themovie.com>.  Here's the 
latest list of venues:
Los Angeles, CA <http://t.ymlp276.net/myyaoawyjhanabyapaebu/click.php> --- Opens 
March 1, 2013
Claremont, CA <http://t.ymlp276.net/jumarawyjhacabyafaebu/click.php> --- Opens 
March 1, 2013
Pasadena, CA <http://t.ymlp276.net/jujaoawyjhapabyakaebu/click.php> --- Opens 
March 1, 2013
Oakland, CA <http://t.ymlp276.net/juhaxawyjhalabyataebu/click.php> --- Opens 
March 8, 2013
Dormont, PA <http://t.ymlp276.net/juwakawyjhanabyataebu/click.php> --- March 
21-24, 2013
Montpelier, VT <http://t.ymlp276.net/juqalawyjhavabyadaebu/click.php> --- March 
22-31, 2013
Columbus, OH <http://t.ymlp276.net/juyaxawyjhapabyaiaebu/click.php> --- March 
26, 2013
Toledo, OH <http://t.ymlp276.net/jesatawyjhafabyataebu/click.php> --- April 2, 2013
Norfolk, VA 
<http://www.narocinema.com/><http://t.ymlp276.net/jesatawyjhafabyataebu/click.php> 
--- April 3, 2013
Philadelphia, PA <http://t.ymlp276.net/jeuaaawyjhaxabyazaebu/click.php> --- May 
3, 2013

I just got the word: /Long Distance Revolutionary/ 
<http://www.mumia-themovie.com> was #1 at the Los Angeles Box Office this past 
weekend for newly released documentaries, which means it stays for an extra week 
of screening!

This film is simply too well made and much too important to not play again in 
Canada and all over the civilized world, so keep your eye on 
www.mumia-themovie.com for more screenings to come.

Also, April 24th is Mumia's 59th birthday.  His birthday has spawned a 
tradition: *Occupy the US Justice Department *(950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 
Washington, D.C.).  Last year's demands included:

     * Release Mumia Abu-Jamal
     * End Mass Incarceration and the Criminalization of Black and Latino Youth
     * Jobs, Education, & Health Care. NOT JAILS!
     * End solitary confinement & stop torture
     * End the racist death penalty
     * Hands off immigrants
     * Free all political prisoners

You can get involved this year by visiting www.OccupyTheJusticeDepartment.com 
<http://www.OccupyTheJusticeDepartment.com>

And if you get impatient to see /Long Distance Revolutionary/ 
<http://www.mumia-themovie.com>, I encourage you to use that energy to organize 
a screening of your own; Stephen Vittoria and Noelle Hanrahan would welcome you!

-- 

Warmly,
dave/
//
Parenting with an Open Heart: a seminar series for all Parents, Caregivers, and 
Parents-to-be: for info and session dates, please visit/ 
/http://humanpowered.wordpress.com <http://humanpowered.wordpress.com/>

Movie and Theatre lovers who know a saner world is possible may enjoying reading 
and sharing their thoughts on Reel Life, Real Ideas: Movies and more... 
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at 30 km/h (20mph) the risk falls to 5 per cent. Source: British Parliamentary 
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