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Red Hollywood: At the top of the cinephile's "to-see list" at RIDM
Directed and written by Thom Andersen and Noël Burch
Thom Andersen's collaborative 1996 essay documentary Red Hollywood was shown last Sunday at the Cinémathèque Québécoise as part of RIDM's retrospective of the filmmaker's career. Red Hollywood, a compilation film coordinated with theoretician Noël Burch, traces the legacy of the wave of directors and screenwriters targeted by the House Un-American Activities Committee between 1947 and 1953, under suspicion of being communist insurgents.
Andersen, a self-described 'proto-communist' in the mid-80s, paired off with colleague and "ex-communist" Noël Burch when research for the film began as faculty at the Ohio State University. Years later, the two enfants terribles of this all-American institution would complete Red Hollywood, a robust counter-narrative to an official history that has overlooked the true progressive vision of the blacklisted artists behind these barred "communist" pictures.
Andersen appeared in a beige blazer sardonically introducing his film as the forerunner to his "masterpiece" (his better-known 2003 feature, Los Angeles Plays Itself). Through his disarming public presence and pre-screening banter, it became apparent that the filmmaker places himself in the role of a preservationist. He explains his attempt to allow space for the film clips of Red Hollywood "to speak for themselves", whilst humbly inviting the crowd to challenge him on this claim during the post-screening Q&A.
True to this description, Anderson and Burch's documentary primarily comprises of a compilation of clips taken from over 50 ideologically dubious films from the mid-30s to 1953, with minimal voice over provided by the auteurs. The end result is fascinating. I was immediately taken aback at the politically engaged and socially subversive nature of barred works, I would have claimed were unimaginable coming from the Hollywood studio system.
A hysterical scene from Tom Dick and Harry (1941), written by the blacklisted Paul Jarrico, includes a bizarre dream sequence where protagonist Janie imagines her life marrying one of her suitors. She is shown as an aloof housewife in an expressionist kitchen, caring for three grown men disguised as babies. Her doting breadwinner husband keeps coming through the door, continually exclaiming yet another promotion at the car dealership. Janie sarcastically mimics his manic excitement, as the prefix of his title grows longer (assistant-junior-executive-in-training) whilst wailing adult "babies" multiply on the floor of the kitchen. Considering its 1941 context, this scathing critique of the 9 to 5 work week, the nuclear family, and reproductive futurism is shockingly ahead of its time. Red Hollywood dismantles a tendency to think of the Hollywood golden age as ideologically homogeneous and curated for a naïve audience.
Allowing the films "to speak for themselves", Andersen and Burch's collaboration exudes a love for cinema tangible in the meticulous curation of clips, resuscitating forgotten artists such as working-class hero John Garfield and proto-feminist Susan Hayward. Red Hollywood is a fascinating, highly informative essay documentary, deserving of a place at the top of the cinephile's "to-see list".
News for November 19th 2015
by Emeline Vidal
A new electric taxi fleet is looking for 500 volunteers to test its services around Montreal, as of next Thursday.
NATIONAL
By Saturn De Los Angeles
CBC News reports that the infamous hotline, meant to alert authorities of un-Canadian cultural sightings, was created at the last minute by Stephen Harper during the election campaign.
In an access to information request, the Mounties found documents related to strategic policing and policy making, but nothing to do with the hotline.
Interim leader Rona Ambrose says she took no part of the decision-making, and stated that the campaign is now over.
According to CTV News, police officers and a SWAT team were hunting the alleged leader of last week's attacks after receiving tips that he was hiding out in an apartment in Paris' Saint-Denis neighbourhood.
The early-morning raid included on-and-off gunfire and explosions for over an hour.
Five police officers were wounded and one SWAT team dog was killed in the incident.
French officials say it is still unclear how exactly the man behind the attacks, 27 year old Belgian extremist Abdelhamid Abaaoud, died.
Thursday November 19th 2015
Hosted by Catlin Spencer
Stories by Emeline Vidal, Saturn de Los Angeles & Julia Bryant
Produced by Catlin Spencer
Tonight: Hooked on Sonics: Bad Lunch Profile, Iceland Airwaves Recap, M For Montreal Giveaway/ Preview: 6-8pm
Tonight we've got at jam packed edition of Hooked on Sonics! CJLO's Volunteer Co-ordinator Christina Bell will join us in-studio to recap her recent voyage to Iceland Airwaves festival earlier this month! She will share some special coverage and behind-the-scenes CJLO sleuthing into the Reykjavik music scene. Tune in for her audio goods around 6pm!
We'll also be chatting M For Montreal, which kicked off yesterday, and runs into the weekend! CJLO is stoked to co-present with M and Blue Skies Turn Black: BSTB Class of '15 #M4MTL w / Hua Li + Technical Kidman + Look Vibrant + Nancy Pants + Gulfer + Po Lazarus this Friday at Bar Le Ritz PDB! We are running a contest, to send you and your friends to this show! Text CJLO what band you are most looking forward to watching (with your name) 514-848-7471 during Dirty Work (4-6pm) and Hooked on Sonics (6-8pm) and we'll pick the winners at the end of the shows!
Finally, we are super excited to have the crew from BAD LUNCH with us from 7-8pm! Tune in to hear what this collective is upto- whether it be putting on shows/events, hosting musicians, or recording a wide range of artists at their space in Point St Charles, they busy themselves with repping local arts and culture tenfold!
All of this is going down, 6-8pm, like every week, on Hooked on Sonics! Tune in and join the conversation.
Tonight on Champions of the Local Scene- We play Look Vibrant's Live Sessions/ Interview: 6pm
Coming up tonight at 6pm on Champions of the Local Scene, we play Look Vibrant's sessions recorded at The Oven this past September (during POP Montreal 2015 on The Groove Master's Hour)! Check em out! We'll also chat with Justin from Look Vibrant around 6:30pm about their upcoming M For Montreal performance this Friday at Bar Le Ritz PDB: BSTB Class of '15 #M4MTL w / Hua Li + Technical Kidman + Look Vibrant + Nancy Pants + Gulfer + Po Lazarus, co-presented by Blue Skies Turn Black and CJLO! A special episode hosted by our Production Director Pat- expect some other Oven sounds as well!
News for November 18th 2015
LOCAL
by Alexa Everett and Catlin Spencer
Pierrefonds Blvd. suffered a water main break last week and repairs have become so complex that a second team of specialists needed to be called in.
The disruption will not end once the pipe is fixed unfortunately, as there will be a boil-water advisory for all residents until further notice.
by Patricia Petit Liang
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that the new Liberal government is still adamant on accepting 25,000 Syrian refugees into Canada by the end of the year.
According to the Toronto Sun, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, Toronto Mayor John Tory, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi all expressed concerns about the possible dangers of accepting the refugees.
Trudeau stated however that security has always been one of his priorities when working with the refugees, and is standing by his plan.
INTERNATIONAL
by Saturn De Los Angeles
It has been confirmed by Russian officials that an on-board bomb brought down Metrojet Flight 9268 in Egypt last month.
The Russian government has now declared a manhunt for the individuals responsible for hijacking the flight from an Egyptian resort town to St. Petersburg which killed all 224 passengers and staff.
In a report by CBC News, Russia's security service is offering a reward of 50 million USD to anyone who can provide information leading to the people connected to the incident.
As of now, the Islamic State has claimed responsibility, saying the attack was in response to Russia's air campaign against the Islamic State and other groups in Syria.
Wednesday November 18th 2015
Hosted by Catlin Spencer
Stories by Alexa Everett, Patricia Petit Liang & Saturn de Los Angeles
Produced by Catlin Spencer
News for Tuesday November 17th 2015
LOCAL
by Catlin Spencer
Thousands of teachers gathered in downtown Montreal on Monday to protest against Quebec government austerity measures and stalled contract negotiations.
According to the Montreal Gazette, the teachers from both Montreal and Laval English school boards say the strike is necessary to show the government that they're serious.
Teachers have been without a renewed contract since April, and Quebec's last offer on November 6th was rejected.
A second strike will be held Tuesday, and the Laurier union voted 88 per cent in favour of an additional three day strike if needed.
NATIONAL
by Catlin Spencer
Ottawa's four-year fight to ban the wearing of the niqab during citizenship oaths has been ended by the Liberal government.
According to the Globe and Mail, the new Liberal government withdrew a request to the Supreme Court for an appeal on the ban.
If the Liberals had not acted, the case would have lapsed on November 21st.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had said during the Conservative's campaign that the niqab issue was needlessly dividing Canadians.
INTERNATIONAL
by Catlin Spencer
French President Francois Hollande is calling for a global coalition against ISIS following the attacks in Paris.
According to CBC, Hollande made the call Monday, asking both Russia and the United States to join the coalition.
In a joint parliament session at the Palace of Versailles, Hollande announced that France was at war, along with a wave of measures to combat terrorism in the country including increased funds for national security and stronger anti-terrorism laws.
In response to the terrorism attacks in France last Friday, Hollande has pledged that French fighter jets would intensify their assaults in Iraq and Syria.
Tuesday November 17th 2015
Hosted by Danny Aubry
Stories by Catlin Spencer
Produced by Patricia Petit Liang & Pauline Nesbitt
Tomorrow at 9am: At The Movies Extra: Interview with RIDM Artistic Director Charlotte Selb
Tomorrow at 9am on a special edition of At The Movies Extra, Remi & Danny will interview Charlotte Selb, Artistic Director of RIDM International Documentary Festival! Tune in to hear what's special about this year's edition and what films you don't want to miss- 9am Tuesday, right after a jam-packed episode of At The Movies with Iconic Sounds: 8-9am!
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