film

"I think it's an identity project that's been given to you, you can go out there and play the hero in the big scene, inscribe yourself in this political rhetoric about the situation," says Janus Metz, who went with a team of Danish soldiers to Afghanistan to make his documentary, Armadillo. The film follows the soldiers as they gradually become hardened to war and even commit acts that seem truly immoral. Janus joined Laura in studio for a conversation about the process of going to war with the soldiers and the reactions to his film. This is a moral issue; the budget is a moral document. We can take care of the deficit and rebuild our infrastructure and strengthen our safety net by reducing military spending and eliminating corporate subsidies and tax loopholes for the rich. Or we can sink further into debt and amoral individualism by demonizing and starving the poor. Which side are you on? Those are the words of GRITtv guest Mark Bittman in the New York Times recently, explaining the fast he had joined to protest austerity measures that overwhelmingly target the hungry. Now over 30,000 people have joined the fast, including pop star and GRITtv guest Moby, and MoveOn created this video in which fasters explain why they've made their choice. The Tea Party governor of Maine ordered a labor mural removed from the state's Department of Labor--and a controversy ensued that even involved the federal labor department, who contributed funds to the mural. Protesters have continued to fight to get the mural reinstated, but a group of artists made their protest a little more creative, projecting photos of the mural on the side of the capitol. And finally, Nancy Goldstein has some choice words for the President about Bradley Manning--some of them from Obama's own constitutional law professor. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Women on the streets of Egypt this week: we see you. And those who blog, write and excite, we see you too. Our documentary of the week honors women who lead their communities in fights for justice. We Women Warriors features three female leaders of an indigenous people's movement in Colombia who have refused to allow their people to become a wedge between their nation's warring factions. The film is directed by Nicole Karsin, and you can find out more about it through the links here. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Mooz-Lum is a new film, directed by Qasim Basir and starring Evan Ross, Nia Long, Danny Glover, Roger Guenveur Smith, Summer Bishil and Dorian Missick. Focused on the story of one Muslim family in the U.S. after 9/11, it illuminates not only the usual coming-of-age issues, the struggle of parents and children to understand one another, but the unique struggle of a Muslim family to retain their identity in a country where fear and hatred for their religion is increasingly commonplace. Laura is joined in studio by Qasim Basir and actor Roger Guenveur Smith checks in via Skype to talk about the film, its intended audience, and what it's like dealing with the current political climate, where new angry anti-Muslim rhetoric seems to be around every turn.Simone Weil was a philosopher, a mystic, and an activist; she inspired those who read her work to reconsider their position on suffering, on politics, on action and religion. Documentarian Julia Haslett found herself so inspired and began work on a film that deals with Weil's legacy today, over sixty years after her death.An Interview with Simone Weil needs your help for completion; you can support the film here.

"Tremé is the musical heart of New Orleans just like New Orleans is the musical heart of America, and I don't just mean the United States," says Steve Earle, who knows a little something about music. The longtime singer/songwriter and activist has played a role as a street musician in the new HBO series Tremé, and has a long history both with the show's creator, David Simon, and with the city and the neighborhood in which the show is set.Earle joined us in studio to continue our coverage of the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, to discuss the city and the storm, the aftermath of the BP oil disaster, our ongoing responsibilty to change our oil consumption habits, and why the death penalty and the Iraq war are related.GRITtv viewers are surely familiar with the story of the Israeli assault on Gaza in December of 2008. But this week's featured documentary tells a more personal story from a personal friend of ours, occasional camera operator Fida Qishta. Fida is a Palestinian filmmaker, and her film tells the story of her interaction with Mona, an 11-year-old who lost her family in the invasion.You can donate to support the completion of the film here.Finally, Daryn Strauss, creator of the critically acclaimed web series, Downsized and the website, Digital Chick TV, shares her thoughts on supporting women in digital media. We know you'll agree...