This Is What Democracy Looks Like (2000)

A filmed account of the street protests against the World Trade Organization Summit in Seattle, Washington, USA in 1999.

Directors:

Jill Friedberg, Rick Rowley

Stars:

Noam Chomsky, Michael Franti, Susan Sarandon

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Noam Chomsky	...	Himself
Michael Franti	...	Narrator (voice)
Susan Sarandon	...	Narrator (voice)
Vandana Shiva	...	Herself

Storyline

This film, shot by 100 amateur camera operators, tells the story of the enormous street protests in Seattle, Washington in November 1999, against the World Trade Organization summit being held there. Vowing to oppose, among other faults, the WTO's power to arbitrally overrule nations' environmental, social and labour policies in favour of unbridled corporate greed, protestors from all around came out in force to make their views known and stop the summit. Against them is a brutal police force and a hostile media as well as the stain of a minority of destructively overzealous comrades. Against all odds, the protesters bravely faced fierce opposition to take back the rightful democratic power that the political and corporate elite of the world is determined to deny the little people.

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Plot Keywords:

seattle washington | trade | world trade organization | police | environmental protest | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Official Sites:

Big Noise Films

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 October 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Essa é a Cara da Democracia

Filming Locations:

Seattle, Washington, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Big Noise Films, Independent Media Center

Technical Specs

Runtime:

72 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Guerrilla Radio"
Performed by Rage Against the Machine
Written by Zack De La Rocha, Tim Commerford, Tom Morello and Brad Wilk
Courtesy of Sony/ATV Songs LLC/Retribution Music

User Reviews

An extremely moving documentary that exposes the truths about todays demonstrations

If you've ever been to any of the past demonstrations against globalization or if you are at all confused about which side is there to keep the peace, I strongly recommend this documentary. It exposes the truths behind protesting and how protesters are handled by the "authorities". Our media gives the people one view of what goes on at these major protests but this film definitely shows the truth. Here you have people from all walks of life (taking a risk even being out there) trying to spread awareness to others about what globalization is really doing to the rest of the world. As a Social activist I have seen first hand the injustices faced by those with a will to change; we do live in a democracy and demonstrations are our right but if you've ever been to one you will know that there is no democracy in the front lines, there is only war. Ironically, this is what anti-globalization activists are against but the brutality of the police and army make this hope unattainable. One day all will see- there is no democracy. Wealth and ignorance are the only things that will liberate you.