The Ojai Post

Demetri and I are also blogging/recording - will try not to duplicate one another!

While Demetri and Lisa handle interviews with film makers and do reviews, I hope to give you some recommendations about what to see based on feedback from particpants, screeners and attendees...

The big hit of Thursday night, which goes in the absolute must see category is: “The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers.”

Five hundred people braved the cold night to watch this one outdoors and then listen to a Q & A session with aniel Ellsberg, his wife Patricia, as well as filmmakers Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith. A great documentary on the events surrounding the publication of the top secret Pentagon papers that contributed mightily to helping end the war in Vietnam.

The film will screen again 5:00 pm Friday night (indoors)at Brooks. Regardless of your own politics, this film is one not to be missed.

Other recommendations for the festival include these:

From Mark Solomon: "Children of Invention," and "Desert Wedding."

From Liz Grumette: "Gospel Hill," "American Outrage," "A Quiet Little Marriage," and "Acholiland."

From Dave Shor: "Watershed Revolution," "Ingredients," "Acholiland," as well as the Ellsberg special screenings and the Haskell Wexler screening of "Who Needs Sleep."

Jeff Kroll was particularly looking forward to seeing the Brooks Film Society Showcases for both narrtives and documentaries which take place on Friday.

And finally Sean Bell reporting that the golf tournament was great but his own score was not too hot.

All in all Thursday was a great kick off to what promises to be one of the years ever for Ojai's own home grown film festival.

Last night we too saw “The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers,” --- could not agree more with hjs's review --absolutely MUST see!

I'd say it is the patriotic duty of every man and woman, and all the young people who would be cannon fodder, to make it a top priority to view this film. I wish the teachers at Nordhoff would give students extra credit for watching and then have them write an essay on the American Constitution.

As serious as the film was, it had plenty of humor. Among my favorite parts were the scenes of Dr. Elsberg's children helping to Xrox top-secret documents to leak to the press. His young daughter, not wanting to be left out, was given the "job" of neatly cutting off the tops of the documents -the part that said TOP SECRET...

I highly recommend Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home, which is the new documentary by the award-winning filmmakers of The Witness. (I saw The Witness when it was shown here a few years ago. Afterwards, I wanted to pack my bags and devote my life to showing this film around the world.)

The Peaceable Kingdom explores the conscience of several people who grew up in traditional farming culture and who have now come to question the basic premises of their inherited way of life.

Presented through a tapestry of memories, music, and riveting accounts of life-altering moments, the film provides insight into the farmers' sometimes amazing connections with the animals under their care, while also making clear the complex web of social, psychological and economic forces that have led them to their dilemma.

Interwoven with the farmers' stories is the dramatic animal rescue work of a newly-trained humane police officer whose sense of justice puts her at odds with the law she is charged to uphold.

With strikingly honest interviews and rare footage demonstrating the emotional lives and intense family bonds of animals most often viewed as living commodities, Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home shatters stereotypical notions of farmers, farm life, and perhaps most surprisingly, farm animals themselves.

Friday, November 6th at 3 PM
Matilija Auditorium, 703 El Paseo Rd., Ojai, CA Map
Saturday, November 7th at 10 AM
Ojai Art Center Theater, 113 S. Montgomery St., Ojai, CA Map

For those without passes, tickets are $10 ($7 seniors/students), and can be purchased at venue on day of event.

saw the Ellsberg documentary last night at Brooks Ventura.
It is one of the best crafted documentaries i have ever seen.
The entire audience was inspired by it and the panel that included the Ellsberg's, the filmmakers and one of the legal team that represented Ellsberg back then.
The material is remarkably relevant totoday's messes in Iraq and Afghanistan. The film is or will soon be available on DVD.
http://www.mostdangerousman.org

Here are some additional good films you should try to catch:

"Peaceable Kimgdom," a documentary about the food industry. "Lost Tribes of NY City," a smart short animation. "The Fenceline," a short narrative film.

And tonight at 8:00pm there is another screening of "Gospel Hill," a full length narrative film with Samuel L. Jackson, Angela Bassett, Danny Glover, Adamn Baldwin and Julia Stiles.

"Niloofar" is also well done and unique from Iraq and it will screen again on Sunday night at 8:00 pm.