Flag Wars (2003)

"Flag Wars" is a cinema verite documentary that follows the conflicts that arise when gay white professionals move into a black working-class neighborhood. Filmed over a four years in ... See full summary »

Directors:

Linda Goode Bryant, Laura Poitras

Stars:

Nina Masseria, Floyd Goode, Josephine Goode

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Nina Masseria	...	Herself
Floyd Goode	...	Himself
Josephine Goode	...	Herself
Shango Baba Olugbala	...	Himself (as Chief Shango Baba Olugbala)
Linda R. Mitchell	...	Herself
Richard C. Pfeiffer	...	Himself - Judge (as Judge Richard C. Pfeiffer)
Jim Yoder	...	Himself
Chuck Spingola	...	Himself
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kathleen Bailey	...	Herself
Daniel Barber
Randy Black	...	Himself
Roger Bohn	...	Himself
Shirley Bowen
Thomas Cambell
Sue Carpenter	...	Herself

Storyline

"Flag Wars" is a cinema verite documentary that follows the conflicts that arise when gay white professionals move into a black working-class neighborhood. Filmed over a four years in Columbus, Ohio, "Flag Wars" leads viewers on an eye-opening journey into a divided community.

---

Plot Keywords:

community | neighborhood | gay | columbus ohio | courthouse | 

---

Genres:

Documentary

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

PBS [United States] Zula Pearl Films

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 March 2003 (USA)

Filming Locations:

AWOL Bar, 49 Parsons Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Zula/Pearl Films Inc., Independent Television Service (ITVS), P.O.V./American Documentary

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Crazy Credits

The producers thank the residents of the near east side/olde towne east of Columbus, Ohio and others. Without your generosity of spirit and honesty, this film would not have been possible.

---

Connections

References Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

---

Soundtracks

"Flag Wars Theme"
Composed by Graham Haynes
Performed by Graham Haynes, coronet
Ted Cruz, piano
Judith Insell (as Judith Insell-Staak), viola
Marlene Rice, violin
Nioka Workman, cello

User Reviews

not as good as it could have been

I went to see this movie because I thought the subject matter would make a great documentary. Unfortunately the film strayed from the main theme too much and became tedious.

The story ends up focusing on an alcoholic bum that had inherited a house from her parents in the neighborhood and let it become a decrepit version of what it had once been. When we see the inside of her home near the end of the film we see the squalor she lives in and immediately lose sympathy for her situation (even though she has her charms).

I wondered why they hadn't focused more on the working class families that were doing their best to survive and balance the new demands of upkeeping their homes to the historic standards.

I wasn't satisfied with the gay homeowners stories either. Apparently the one gay homebuyer they feature had just moved from an Omish community and was coming out of the closet, but I didn't find this out until after the movie at the Q&A. Why aren't the viewers filled in on this important fact??

This movie could have been more about the situation and less about one unfortunate soul.