david813g

In its current state (as of November 2007), this film still needs editing, but it is shaping up to be a beautifully shot, compelling film about the crisis in the Niger River Delta caused by the collusion between big multi-national oil companies and the Nigerian government, which relies on oil profits to fund 80 percent of its federal budget. As the multi-national corporation shareholders and corrupt government officials get wealthy, the 20 million people of the Delta are losing their subsistence livelihoods to the pollution caused by the oil business. The film calls for nothing more radical than third-party-led negotiations between the locals and the oil companies so the presence of the latter benefits rather than harms the former. Watch for this documentary. It is going to be astounding, and terribly important. Also compelling is the incredible irresponsibility of big American media in reporting this story, essentially calling those who organize peacefully to defend the people of the Delta "terrorists." See for yourself. The film has the outstanding production values and heart of _Born into Brothels_ and the political guts and courage of _Harlan County, U.S.A._

Jill Godmilow is a premier American documentary filmmaker, known mostly for telling stories about how she is trying to tell a story. In other words, her films are quite reflexive and, in her opinion, more honest because of that. This film is a prime example. Unable to get to Poland to shoot the story of the Solidarity movement firsthand, she intercuts between archival footage, re-enacted, verbatim interviews based on transcripts, and her own direct addresses to the camera about what is happening in her own personal and professional life as she tries to make this film. Viewers with little interest in documentary film as a genre or in the Polish Solidarity movement of the 1980s might find little in this film to hold their attention, but viewers interested in either the genre or the subject should see it (if they can find it).