[HouTango-L] documentary Argentina: Hope in Hard Times, February 21, FREE

[A. Lester Buck III]

The following is from the hglob-announce list, which is the announcement
list for the Houston Globalization Forum:


Argentina
Hope in Hard Times

In the face of economic collapse, the Argentine people rescued
themselves. This documentary film by Mark Dworkin and Melissa
Young provides a hopeful example for all of us.

Monday, February 21, 2005, 7:00pm
Free film screening with light refreshments provided.

Presented by Houston Institute for Culture and the Department of
Modern and Classical Languages at the University of St. Thomas,
with Globalization Forum and Globalization Working Group.

University of St. Thomas
Anderson Auditorium
3815 Mt. Vernon Street
Houston, Texas, 77006

Anderson Auditorium is located in Anderson Hall (near the Chapel of
St. Basil), just south of West Alabama Street. See Bldg. 20 on Map:
http://www.stthom.edu/map/map.htm

For more information: Call 713-521-3686; or email
info at houstonculture.org.  http://www.houstonculture.org/film


Argentina: Hope in Hard Times

"Que se vayan todos!" Chants echo off the skyscrapers, burst
through the plazas, and clamor down the streets of Buenos
Aires. "Throw them all out!" shout legions of frustrated Argentine
housewives, students and lawyers, weaving their way through the
city one summer evening, banging on pots and pans.

What would you do if you lost your job, they closed the banks
so you couldn't access your savings, and the government seemed
unable to help? In Argentina they stormed supermarkets for food;
the police gunned down 30 people in just one day. But what happened
next was truly extraordinary.

ARGENTINA - HOPE IN HARD TIMES joins in the processions and
protests, attends street-corner neighborhood assemblies, visits
workers' cooperatives and urban gardens, taking a close-up look
at the ways in which Argentines are picking up the pieces of their
devastated economy and creating new possibilities for the future. A
spare narrative, informal interview settings, and candid street
scenes allow the pervasive strength, humor, and resilience of the
Argentine people to tell these tales. These are their inspiring
stories - of a failed economy and distrusted politicians, of
heartache and hard times, of a resurgence of grassroots democracy
and the spirit of community - told in resonant detail.

Other films by Mark Dworkin and Melissa Young are NET LOSS,
ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE, NOT FOR SALE, GENE BLUES, ISLAS
HERMANAS, and RISKY BUSINESS.


Reviews:

"A wonderfully effective education piece on issues relating
to the global economy and the real consequences of IMF/World
Bank policies... the documentary illustrates in a beautiful and
powerful way the potential that lies within ordinary people to
truly care for one another and to self-organize their resources,
communities, and enterprises to the benefit of all if presented
with the need and the opportunity." Dr. David Korten, President,
The People-Centered Development Forum

"A great resource... depicts in detail the effects of
globalization, neoliberal economics, and other broad trends on
everyday people's experience." Angelina Godoy, Acting Chair
of Latin American Studies, The Henry M. Jackson School of
International Studies

"For anyone who has ever felt despair or pessimism in the face of
the global economy, ARGENTINA - HOPE IN HARD TIMES is a powerful
and inspiring antidote. A cogent critique of neoliberalism and
a compelling alternative." Juliet Schor, Professor of Sociology,
Boston College

"This film is a powerful reminder of the fragility of our
global economy and the possibilities for rekindling the human
spirit." George Cheney, Professor of Communication, University
of Utah

"The documentary's timeliness is matched both by the powerful
scenes it shows and by its clear political message: Even
in difficult times there is hope of a better world." Arturo
Santa-Cruz, Political Science Professor, University of Guadalajara,
Mexico

__________________________________________________
Houston Institute for Culture is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization dedicated to promoting cultural education and
awareness through cultural activities. Our goal is to provide free
and low-cost events, services and classes for the community. The
organization's sphere of interest is Houston, the regions that
have affected Houston's cultural history and the international
origins of Houston's diverse population.