January 15, 2006

American Film Renaissance Conservative Film Festival in Hollywood

This weekend American Film Renaissance, run by Jim and Ellen Hubbard, is doing a Conservative film festival at the Mann 6 Theaters in Hollywood. I've been to three events there so far this weekend, and they've all been great.

One thing that's very interesting is that Conservative film is starting to mean, films that show a liking for America. One wouldn't think that would be the particular provenance of one political party over the other. But the unceasing blame-America-first rhetoric from the Left has, very strangely, for this moment in our history, marked such films as belonging to supporters of the Republican view of things. One can't imagine Cindy Sheehan, Al Gore, Howard Dean, or Hillary Clinton finding much to attract them to this festival.

Friday night the festival opened with The World's Fastest Indian, based on the true story of Burt Munro, who in 1962 came to America from New Zealand and set a land speed record in a motorcycle built in 1920. The great script, by Roger Donaldson (who also directed), maintains suspense and is very entertaining all the way through. On the way, Munro sees America for the first time, to heart-warming effect. I'd recommend this film to anybody. Take the family.

Saturday afternoon Gary Sinise was interviewed by John Ziegler. Sinise co-founded Operation Iraqi Children, dedicated to bringing school supplies and other essential to Iraqi children. He said a lot of fascinating things, some of which I will quote here from my hand-written notes taken down at the time (not expected to be verbatim):

John Ziegler: Is there a disconnect between what we're being told about Iraq, and what you've seen going on there?

Gary Sinise: There's no getting around it that there's tragedy, but unfortunately that's all the media is going to show us. In spite of what we're told on a daily basis there is a lot of optimism over there. We had a convoy go out to schools in Mosul. A CBS camera crew went out and got very happy, positive footage. On the way back the company was attacked. That was national news, but the purpose of the convoy was never reported. The gunfight was reported but not the distribution. So you're not getting a balanced accounting of what's happening over there unless you dig. An electrical plant opening in Iraq is a big deal to Iraqis, but isn't news here. It seems the media is very quick to report the negative, but not the positive.

I think we're at war. That's my personal opinion. Unfortunately it may take another devastating event in this country for people to realize what we're up against. I believe there is an enemy and they will be there after this president is gone and after the next president is gone. 

9-11 changed me. It made me want to give back to my country.

I don't think it helps the troops for people to criticize their mission. Personally I know that there are a whole bunch of them who don't care what those people [who criticize the mission] are saying. 

We're insulated in this country. We've been under attack for 30 years. And hopefully it won't take another devastating event for us to realize that.

It's great to see Hollywood actors with Conservative views beginning to feel comfortable expressing them publicly. 

Saturday night I saw a documentary, The Bituminous Coal Queens of Pennsylvania. Produced by Patricia Heaton, and Directed by David Hunt (Heaton's husband), the film was inspired by their friend, actress Sarah Rush, who at 16 had been named the Coal Queen of Carmichael, Pennsylvania, in an annual town event. It was about to be the 50th anniversary of this event, and all former Coal Queens had been invited to Carmichael for the occasion. Hunt builds his film around the selection of the newest Coal Queen, with sequences showing local coal mining -- the first time cameras had ever been permitted underground there to photograph the mining operation -- and the life of the town. I never expected such a film to be heart-warming, uplifting, and entertaining -- all of which this was. Hunt's film is a celebration of the town and really is touching, heart-warming and fun.

If you're in L.A., stop by Sunday for the third day of the Festival.