Chicago’s documentary filmmaker Bob Hercules has come up with a more dramatic topic- Michael Pfleger who is a Catholic priest and director Hercules has tried to explore the history of the popular priest of Chicago. Pfleger is a popular figure and is widely known for his brave speeches on liberal and civil rights.

Although politics and Catholic principles seldom culminate, Michael Pfleger has the knack to incorporate his political views in his sermons. He does this with great conviction and openness in most of his public speeches and demonstrations. Michael Pfleger also invited the always-in news Rev. Jeremiah Wright to render a speech and when the controversy flared up he gave a spiritual discourse from Wright’s altar.

Despite being surrounded by many controversies and having a tough time with his superiors there is another side of Michael Pfleger that cannot be ignored and that he is a strong social activist and also a reformer. There is a rule that politics cannot be spoken from the pulpit and none other than the priest can give a spiritual discourse.

There is another rule that the Catholic priest will have to adhere to a particular church for a span of six years, which can e renewed only once. And Michael Pfleger has been serving at St. Sabina’s church form 1981, which is the longest period of service rendered by any priest in the US. The sixty-year-old priest is now very keen to continue his services at the church for even longer and he acknowledges this fact by saying there is line up of other priest to take up the offer of serving in St. Sabina.

Father Michael Pfleger has developed an intense attachment towards the parishioners after being associated with the church for such long time it is but natural. Pfleger many of the services include restoring the St. Sabina’s church, rebuilt the St. Michael’s Academy, started an employment center and also built homes for the old. His services towards social reforms are commendable and that keeps me higher in Catholic hierarchy despite his controversial image.

Radical Disciple: The Story of Father Pfleger

It is interesting to note that the old age homes Michael Pfleger built are on the land, which was infested by bars, porn shops and prostitutes. Pfleger led huge campaigns against such immoral practices that made way to a noble cause. Michael Pfleger did not rap musicians, as their work did not show any respect to women and contained too much violence. His Stop Listening to Trash campaign was a huge success. Along with Rev. Jesse Jackson Pfleger made serious protest against gun-stores that would sell weapons to the youth.

It is a well-known fact that Michael Pfleger is great supporter of Barrack Obama and he gone to the extent of considering it would be sinful act if somebody did not vote for Obama. Carol Marin who is the Sun Times columnist who is reporting the Pfleger for many years says that he maintains a distance from the official church and does not seem to gel well with the co-priests. He might be controversial priest much to despise of his superiors but you cannot forget his services towards the society and the remarkable changes he has made in his community.

Capitalism: A Love Story is a documentary film directed by Michael Moore and the film was deeply appreciated in the Venice Film Festival. Moore has spelt two blatant truths that come as shockers and the other highlight of the film tries to find out the reasons behind the economic crash and also explores into the fundamental reason for America’s love for capitalism and how much price is the nation paying for this love.

The director has given an insight into the lives of average American citizen’s life after the economic meltdown; the repercussions of the same on the middle class families and how the common man’s life is shaken with the financial crises are some of the serious issues Moore has touched upon; definitely touching the audience.

Moore also tries to find answers and solutions issued by Washington DC and his findings are all familiar, and then come the absolute truth; that there are 14,000 job cuts on a daily basis in the US, which stares at the world’s super power and the stark reality bites the common man more than anybody. The film is a combination of Moore’s previous and present work and lingers upon the fundamental question- who are we and why do we behave the way that we do?

Moore is of the opinion that capitalism leads to greed and the major chunk of wealth remains with the richest people of the country, which does no give scope for equal distribution of wealth among the masses and only a section of the nation is enjoying the privileges of capitalism. But Moore does not suggest socialism as a solution and nor does he offer suggestions to set right the failing economy.

Moore does believe in the democracy and feels that Barrack Obama was too fast in giving respite to the rich and according to Moore Obama’s has not provided enough reforms to gear up the economy. He also shows concern about the common man still being manipulated by financial institutions.

Scene from Capitalism: A Love Story

The two important and mind-blowing truths that Moore comes up with in his film are the life insurance on the dead and corrupt practice in the name of derivatives and the best part is that these derivates are beyond one’s understanding, as they are processed by the computers and even the software guys fails to explain the ‘intricacies’ about the system to Moore.

The documentary creates quite an impact on an average American probably most of the people have learnt to question but fail to find out why or reason out the series of events, and the movie serves good for such people. Some parts of the film are entertaining too especially in the scene where he uses the bullhorn to get back our money from the Stock Exchange market.

Moore’s efforts to bring out certain truths needs to be acknowledged, and he has made the right move in the right direction. The only complaint would be he has not openly explained as to what needs to be done to rectify the economic mayhem. Else, the film is loud and clear for everyone to hear.

Disneynature tribute to the Earth Day, April 22 is a documentary film directed and written by Mark Linfield and Alastair Fothergill and it’s named as Earth. Earlier in the period between 1948 and 1960 Walt Disney made several short-length documentary pictures. Amongst them, there were films like True Life Adventure that won three Oscars in the category of documentary pictures and several other honorable titles.

Documentary: Earth
Writer: Alastair Fothergill
Director: Mark Linfield
Narrator: Jmaes Earl Jones
Rating: 4/5

But, since then, Disney’s foray into documentary films was shelved for reasons unknown but then returned back now with Earth.

Again, Disney has announced a program along with the release of the film. The program is Buy a Ticket, Plant a Tree. It says that during the first 5-day opening phase of the film, for one ticket purchased, a tree will be planted. This film will be loved and enjoyed by the younger generation and no wonder that in its advance booking phase, the film has already pledged for 5,00,000 trees to be planted.

This film Earth is a wonderful compilation from the series Planet Earth of BBC and discovery channel, and it is narrated by James Earl Jones. The film evokes thought and concerns for our planet earth. As the documentary unfolds, the narrator provides identities to the animals that have been shown.

The film is a feast for the eyes as a big screen reflects ethereal beauty with scenes of  Storks flying over the Himalayas, Polar bear cubs plummeting towards sea, whales swimming to their feeding grounds, some 3000 miles away off the coast of Antarctica, Ducklings learning to fly out from the nest and herds of elephant getting exhausted as they cross a bone-dry desert. All together reflects a learning experience for these animals.

However, in this documentary, the most touching scene was when one particular polar bear got lost at sea and in its search was struggling to get on to his ice home in these days of global warming. He finally came ashore exhausted and starved. In the effort to hunt for his prey, he attacked a flock of walruses but he failed and finally died on the shores. The walruses nearby were unperturbed and indifferent. The documentary unfolded with a scene of a mother polar bear with her two cubs. The one who died was the father polar bear.

The other favorite Disney movies of my childhood days are The vanishing Prairie and The Living Desert. The film Earth reveals some unexpected facts as well such as baby whales need to be taught as to how to breathe and even fir trees circle the globe and supplies oxygen more than the rain forests. However no mammals and birds stay in the fir tree forest that begins from the northern circle because they are considered inedible.

The film Earth is simply beautiful and its worth watching. Consciously, it kind of evokes sentiments for the Earth and the hapless animals that strive for their habitats in these days of global warming. The pre-opening release of this film was co-sponsored by Lincoln Park Zoo and they handed over to each audience a sapling to plant and save the Earth. What a way to acknowledge The Earth Day! Aint?

Rating: 3.5/5

Wrong. This is exactly what Michael Moore shows us in his gruesome and black documentary titled Sicko. The documentary opens with the interview of a man who lost two fingers in an accident and had to choose which one he wanted reattached because he had no money for both. But then again, this man did not have insurance and Michael proceeds to tell us that this documentary is not about men like him; it is about those who actually have medical insurance. But this does not mean that they have not suffered. For a zillion reasons, their claims have been rejected and they have faced immense problems because the system did not care if they lived or died.

Michael Moore in Sicko

The cases that have been shown are shocking – there have been two deaths caused because the company did not think the disease was life threatening – it was breast cancer and both women perished. A woman denied claim because she did not inform the company immediately – she was unconscious after meeting with a serious accident. These are just a few examples of the shocking and unbelievable lengths that insurance companies go to just to refuse a claim. Moore has shown us a gory picture where the health care sector is not for the welfare of the citizens, but is a private enterprise that is treated like all other businesses are – maximize profits and minimize losses, what ever be the stakes. Cases where doctors have been given incentives to reject claims have been brought to light and you get to see something that makes you uncomfortable and scared.

A scene from the documentary – Sicko

Sicko is a documentary which faces a lot of flack from the sector itself. There are people attacking the intentions of the director and choose to delve into his past and use his previous record as proof of his insanity. But I ask you this, does it really matter what he did in the past? Here too, it is important to add that he did make some ground breaking films and documentaries like Roger and me, Fahrenheit 9/11 and Bowling for Columbine. There are mistake that he made, but this one sees very little of him. In fact, he has handled the entire process as objectively as possible and has been most professional with the facts that he reports. Moore reminds us that America actually ranks 37th when it comes to health care and asks those against him one very clever question. How is it that while everything else of public importance is under the public sector, something as vital as healthcare is left to the private sector? Sadly, there is no answer.

So if you want my honest opinion, this is a film that you must see – it is unpleasant, gory, disgusting and rips at your gut. This is precisely why you should watch it because then you will know how bad it is out there.

Rating: 3.5/5

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