Having heard about the gatherings of progressive activists who convened to watch documentaries like Outfoxed and Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, I expected a similar event at the Family Promise Center this past Saturday for a showing of Orwell Rolls in His Grave (above), Robert Kane Pappas' 2003 film attacking bias in the media. I assumed that something called the Family Promise Center would be a community center, and that there'd be an auditorium or meeting room full of plastic chairs and people discussing the finer points of Noam Chomsky.
Instead, I find myself turning down a residential street near D Street and Owens, stopping in front of what looks like someone's house. No need to worry: After I ring the bell, a pleasant woman answers the door and ushers me into what is indeed the Family Promise Center, a resource center for families in crisis.
I'm the first person to show up—not a surprise since, according to organizers Sally McDaniel (the pleasant woman at the door) and Eugene Bahn, the event was put together at the last minute and advertised mainly to a couple of activist mailing lists. It's sponsored by the Complete Coverage Campaign, an organization started by Bahn and McDaniel that encourages the media to report on humanitarian issues in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Befitting the minimal promotion and questionable location, fewer than 10 people show up, and we sit in the living room to watch the DVD. "I'm sorry we don't have any commercials to show you before the movie," Bahn jokes. Although everyone is clearly on board with the film's agenda, Bahn notes that the documentary is one-sided and anti-media, and not completely in line with the CCC's goals. It does, however, raise what he considers interesting points about the way that the media manipulates the public discourse.
At times, watching the movie is like being in church, with murmured assents and outrage expressed at the appropriate times. The woman next to me, older, timid-looking, is particularly moved to commentary, exclaiming "Yes!" after certain points about egregious offenses by the Bush administration. As a film, Orwell is crude and uncinematic, full of talking heads and bargain-basement graphics. Its insights may be valid, but they've been covered more effectively elsewhere.
After the film, Bahn tries to engender a discussion, but people aren't inclined to talk, and the crowd dissipates. McDaniel says the group hopes to hold future screenings at the West Charleston Library, which should raise attendance. At least it will be easier to find.