Why We Fight (2005)

Is American foreign policy dominated by the idea of military supremacy? Has the military become too important in American life? Jarecki's shrewd and intelligent polemic would seem to give an affirmative answer to each of these questions.

Director:

Eugene Jarecki

Writer:

Eugene Jarecki

Stars:

Gore Vidal, John McCain, Ken Adelman

4 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Ken Adelman	...	Himself
John Ashcroft	...	Himself (archive footage)
Osama bin Laden	...	Himself (archive footage)
George Bush	...	Himself (archive footage)
George W. Bush	...	Himself (archive footage)
Robert Byrd	...	Himself (archive footage)
Frank Capra	...	Himself (archive footage)
Dick Cheney	...	Himself (archive footage)
Joseph Cirincione	...	Himself
Bill Clinton	...	Himself (archive footage)
Anh Duong	...	Herself
Gwynne Dyer	...	Himself
Dwight D. Eisenhower	...	Himself (archive footage)
John S.D. Eisenhower	...	Himself
Susan Eisenhower	...	Herself

Storyline

He may have been the ultimate icon of 1950s conformity and postwar complacency, but Dwight D. Eisenhower was an iconoclast, visionary, and the Cassandra of the New World Order. Upon departing his presidency, Eisenhower issued a stern, cogent warning about the burgeoning "military industrial complex," foretelling with ominous clarity the state of the world in 2004 with its incestuous entanglement of political, corporate, and Defense Department interests.

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Plot Keywords:

political superpower | war crime | war criminal | american imperialism | military industrial complex | 

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Taglines:

It is nowhere written that the American empire goes on forever.

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Genres:

Documentary | History | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for disturbing war images and brief language

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Classics [United States]

Country:

UK France Denmark Canada USA

Language:

English Arabic

Release Date:

January 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dlaczego walczymy

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$53,571, 22 January 2006, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,436,279, 14 May 2006

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arte, BBC Storyville, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Gore Vidal: I remember when in the Pacific the word spread that the bombs had been dropped, 99.9% of us were delighted, because we had been convinced that, if Japan was not hit by nuclear weapons, a million of us would be killed. Drop those bombs and they will surrender. But they were trying to surrender all that summer. But Truman wouldn't listen; he wanted to drop the bombs. To show off. To frighten Stalin. To change the balance of power in the world. To declare war on Communism.

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Connections

References Divide and Conquer (1943)

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Soundtracks

Hurt
(uncredited)
Written by Trent Reznor
Performed by Johnny Cash

User Reviews

Go See This Film!

As a viewer of this movie at the premier last year in Park City, I was deeply impacted about the truth and objective reporting that this movie tries to portray about our country and the logical (and historical) progression that lead us to war. When Jarecki was asked in PC why he did not release the film during the election, he steadfastly stated that the film was not about Bush bashing, but was about trying to show the American public how democracy works, (both pro and con). I do not usually get worked up about a film or politics, but after viewing this film a year ago, I have talked about it continuously and it's lessons to all who are willing to listen. I steadfastly believe that this film should be shown in the classroom to educate, and perhaps forewarn our youth about being vigilant of our sometimes overreaching capitalistic tendencies. This is coming from an individual who has enjoyed the bounties of capitalism, but got a wakeup call. GO SEE THIS FILM!