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IMDbPro

The Big Scary 'S' Word

  • 2020
  • 1h 22m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
193
YOUR RATING
The Big Scary 'S' Word (2020)
Trailer 1
Play trailer1:57
2 Videos
8 Photos
Documentary

Historians, journalists and politicians reveal that, contrary to popular belief, socialism is in fact deeply American.Historians, journalists and politicians reveal that, contrary to popular belief, socialism is in fact deeply American.Historians, journalists and politicians reveal that, contrary to popular belief, socialism is in fact deeply American.

  • Director
    • Yael Bridge
  • Stars
    • Adaner Usmani
    • Eric Foner
    • Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    193
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Yael Bridge
    • Stars
      • Adaner Usmani
      • Eric Foner
      • Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
    • 5User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    The Big Scary 'S' Word
    Trailer 1:57
    The Big Scary 'S' Word
    Official Trailer
    Clip 1:57
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Clip 1:57
    Official Trailer

    Photos7

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    Top cast62

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    Adaner Usmani
    Adaner Usmani
    • Self - Asst. Professor of Sociology, Harvard University
    Eric Foner
    Eric Foner
    • Self - Professor of History, Columbia University
    Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
    Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
    • Self - Asst. Professor of African American Studies, Princeton University
    Cornel West
    Cornel West
    • Self - Professor of Philosophy, Harvard University
    Vivek Chibber
    Vivek Chibber
    • Self - Professor of Sociology, New York University
    John Nichols
    John Nichols
    • Self - Author, The S-Word
    Stephanie Price
    Stephanie Price
    • Self - Public School Teacher
    Kshama Sawant
    Kshama Sawant
    • Self - Seattle City Council
    Matt Karp
    Matt Karp
    • Self - Professor of History, Princeton University
    Eric Blanc
    Eric Blanc
    • Self - Author, Red State Revolt
    Naomi Klein
    Naomi Klein
    • Self - Author, This Changes Everything
    Brian Reilly
    Brian Reilly
    • Self - Lead Docent, Little White Schoolhouse Museum
    Lee Carter
    Lee Carter
    • Self - Virginia State Delegate, District 50
    • (as Lee J. Carter)
    Kate Aronoff
    Kate Aronoff
    • Self - Author, We Own the Future
    Scott Inman
    Scott Inman
    • Self - OK House Minority Leader
    Ricardo Núñez
    Ricardo Núñez
    • Self - Director of Economic Democracy, Sustainable Economies Law Center
    Richard D. Wolff
    Richard D. Wolff
    • Self - Economics Professor Emeritus, University of Massachusetts
    • (as Richard Wolff)
    DiCarlo Johnson
    DiCarlo Johnson
    • Self - Worker…
    • Director
      • Yael Bridge
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews5

    6.8193
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    Featured reviews

    3tfc

    Somewhat Disappointing. Expected More.

    Watched the Big Scary 'S' Word and was not scared nor entertained. It was over an hour long ramble that could have been reduced to thirty minutes if all the fluffy sniveling whining dog whistle bits were removed and Socialism/Capitalism was properly explain by economists. I enjoy hearing about injustices being righted as much as the next guy, but not having my time wasted.
    10scotthettenbach

    A beginners guide to understanding socialism

    Simply a must see.

    "When we all do better, we all do better." -Paul Wellstone

    Unfettered capitalism is the titanic of our time, above the waterline it looks like an unsinkable permanent behemoth, but its rapidly taking on water and before long it will only be a cautionary tale.

    I'm here for it.
    7cjpalmer-53855

    Decent film to shift the Red Scare view on Socialism

    I will start by saying I didn't feel this film was some mastermind propaganda film to convert you to socialism. However if you are right leaning or far right you are probably going to disagree with me on that.

    The film doesn't spew a bunch of leftist or liberal talking points for 80 minutes. Rather it tries to shine some light on the history of socialism, and leftism as a whole but particularly in America. Laying out the factual events in history that people both on the left and right would agree are morally good, actually have roots in socialism, or leftist ideology. So to equate any form of socialistic thought with the USSR or poverty and hardship is just illogical and oblivious to history.

    The movie brings many collegiate historians and people who identify as socialist, in order to state some points which from an objective point of view should be universally accepted, but aren't because of the McCarthyism and red scare era politics that has been engrained into most American's brains.
    10tomwins1

    Not a S person but I loved this movie

    I am a 65 year old man who has grown cynical and withdrawn from most political matters.

    The hope and optimism in this movie was so rewarding to watch. I left the Republican party when Reaganism came to power and started the debt crisis. When Obama failed to do substantial reform I left the Democratic Party. I've been without a party as I still don't see anyone that I can vote for who is addressing the real problems that face the US, our culture, or our communities.

    I am not ready to be a Socialist but if one were on my ballot I'd give them a fair hearing to see if they were willing to tackle the real issues and not play the games that seems to be the real passion of the Rs and Ds.
    8nafps

    A Good Guide to American Socialism Then and Now

    Martin Luther King, Einstein, the Pledge of Allegiance, America the Beautiful, much of the New Deal, much of the labor movement and civil rights movement, all of these are socialist.

    What is not? Communism. Dictatorship of any kind. Even the failures of Venezuela are half market failures, half from American blockades and sabotage. Anything smeared by MAGA types, the orange idiot, and McCarthyism then or now.

    The one utterly ridiculous negative "review" shows why this film is needed. A long red baiting rant free of facts, only showing he never saw the film at all.

    As a history primer this works well, with a number of famous historians included such as Cornel West and Erik Foner.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Connections
      References Chapo Trap House: Kenneth Friendly's Scorpio Smiling feat. Yael Bridge and Morgan Spector (5/6/19) (2019)

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • September 3, 2021 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Film's official site (with trailer, crew info, festival screenings, etc.)
      • The film's official website.
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Η μεγάλη, τρομακτική λέξη από σίγμα
    • Production companies
      • Flat Five Productions
      • Meerkat Media Collective
      • Wayland Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 22 minutes

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