[alt-media-res] review of new indymedia film

[zoe]

Review of New Indymedia Film, "i"
Chris Anderson | 25.07.2006 18:39 | Analysis | Indymedia | Technology |
World

"i," the powerful and occasionally frustrating new film by independent
directors Raphael Lyon and Andres Ingoglia, tells of one such democratic
moment, the Argentinean economic collapse of 2001 and the social uprisings
that accompanied it. Along the way it also functions as one of the first, if
not the very first, feature length films about the Independent Media Center
(IMC, or Indymedia) movement, which chronicled the Argentine struggle as it
unfolded.

Anyway. Here's an advance review of the Indymedia film "i" that I did for
the upcoming issue of the Indypendent.


i



Political theorist Sheldon Wolin has written movingly of what he calls
"fugitive democracy": the pure democratic moment, unencumbered by
institutionalized hierarchy and vibrating with the strength of the
revolutionary multitude. "i," the powerful and occasionally frustrating new
film by independent directors Raphael Lyon and Andres Ingoglia, tells of one
such democratic moment, the Argentinean economic collapse of 2001 and the
social uprisings that accompanied it. Along the way it also functions as one
of the first, if not the very first, feature length films about the
Independent Media Center (IMC, or Indymedia) movement, which chronicled the
Argentine struggle as it unfolded.

"i" is divided into three parts. The first, "Microscope," examines the
Argentinean uprising and the birth-or rather the rebirth-- of the Argentina
IMC; the second, "Telescope," continues to ground its narrative in Argentina
but expands the conversation to include more general ruminations and debates
about the meaning and purpose of the Indymedia movements; the third,
"Mirror," briefly shifts its focus to New York City during the massive
February 15th anti-war protests and then returns to Buenos Aires and the
Plaza Mayo for the first anniversary of the December 19 uprising against
President De la Rúa.

It is the focus on Indymedia activity in Argentina that is one of the
strongest aspects to this beautifully shot, often profoundly moving film. In
Western Europe and North America, even within the Indymedia movement, the
activities, organization, and struggles of radical media of the global south
are often overlooked or misunderstood. "i" is a galloping, careening,
tornado of a film, often pausing briefly to listen in on one collective
debate about the nature of Indymedia before moving on to the next crisis.
One senses that the film's directors are straining mightily to remove
themselves and their own perspective from the narrative, letting members of
various social movements and IMC collectives speak for themselves, even when
their viewpoints conflict or seem contradictory.

It is this barely controlled chaos, this sense of being dropped into history
in medias res, that, paradoxically, is also "i"'s greatest weakness. Its
hard to imagine that anyone not already familiar with the history,
structure, and background of the Indymedia movement will learn much about
the network or what makes it tick-there is simply too much information for
anyone not schooled in radical media history and leftist politics to absorb
easily. In this way, of course, "i" resembles the websites of the media
movement that it chronicles: intuitively understandable for many, a
collection of sprawling, disorganized, headache-inducing data for some.

The film ends on an odd, ambiguous note. Back at the Plaza de Mayo in
December of 2002, the insurrection largely over, one IMC member complains
that the "ideologues have returned," and one suspects that he is referring
less to right-wing ideologues than their leftist counterparts. Many of the
Argentina IMC members speak about their disillusionment with concepts such
as "journalism" and "news," the dangers of media consumerism, and the need
to dissolve the Indymedia Argentina into social movements themselves. What
this means in practice, of course, is not entirely clear. "What may be
needed is a new communication paradigm," the film's voice-over narrator
concludes. "What may be needed is a leap of faith."


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"i" was Produced and directed by independent filmmakers Raphael Lyon and
Andres Ingoglia, and has its community premiere at Bluestockings Bookstore
on July 20. For press inquiries, contact Amy Dalton at 267-974-0624. To book
a screening of "i" and/or a speaking engagement, contact Jen Angel at
jenangel at riseup.net

For some good background history on the complicated birth of Argentina IMC,
see anarchogeek.

Chris Anderson
 Homepage: http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2006/07/73436.html

  a.. Download this article in pdf format




"It is easier to imagine the end of the world than to imagine the end of
capitalism."   Fredric Jameson

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Films about International Financial Institutions: http://www.ifiwatch.tv
Writing on the Global Environment Facility: http://www.newgreenorder.info
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