By Daily Press staff
Politics hits the silver screen this fall at Santa Monica College. SMC has announced that is launching a Monday night political film series Sept. 18 that will include audience discussions following the screenings.
Seven films will be screened over a two-month period beginning Sept. 18 and continuing through Nov. 20. All screenings are free and are held at 6:30 p.m. in room 16 of the SMC math complex, 1900 Pico Blvd.
The films focus on contemporary political issues, including race, war, corporate power, crime, religion and the media. Political science professor Alan Buckley and film studies professor Josh Kanin will host and moderate the after-screening discussions.
The lineup of films is: Sept. 18 — “The Confederate States of America,” Kevin Willmott’s 2004 British documentary set in a contemporary alternative world where the Confederate States of America managed to win the American Civil War. The film covers the history of the alternate America where racial enslavement became triumphant and the nation carries sinister designs of conquest.
Sept. 25 — “Lord of War,” Andrew Niccol’s 2005 darkly humorous film starring Nicolas Cage about the lethal business of arms dealers. It chronicles the rise and inevitable fall of a Ukrainian immigrant to America who makes his fortune selling every kind of ordinance he can get his hands on.
Oct. 9 — “Seven Days in May,” the 1964 movie, starring Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas, about a military plot to take over the U.S. government, written by Rod Serling (”The Twilight Zone”) and directed by John Frankenheimer (“The Manchurian Candidate”).
Oct. 23 — “Network,” Sidney Lumet’s 1976 scathing satire about the uses and abuses of network television with Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway and Beatrice Straight, each of whom won Oscars for their performances.
Nov. 6 — “Thank You for Smoking,” Jason Reitman’s brazen satire of corporate profits and what lobbyists will do to protect them. It features Robert Duvall, Rob Lowe and William H. Macy, among others.
Nov. 13 — “Inherit the Wind,” Stanley Kramer’s 1960 film that gives a slightly fictionalized account of the Scopes Monkey Trial of the 1920s in which a young Tennessee teacher was prosecuted for teaching the theory of evolution in a public school. Spencer Tracy plays the role based on Clarence Darrow, the eloquent defense attorney and also featured are Fredric March and Gene Kelly.
Nov. 20 — “A Clockwork Orange,” Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 masterpiece starring Malcolm McDowell that takes a dark and satirical look at a government experiment that attempts to reform criminals through an unorthodox new medical treatment.
For information, call (310) 434-4588 or (310) 434-4510.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 1, 2006. Read the original PDF.