Posted on 01/19/2007 5:58:44 AM PST by MadIvan
Hollywood legend Robert Redford has called on US leaders to apologise for the war in Iraq.
The actor was speaking at the start of the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, where the opening movie recalled protests over the Vietnam war in 1968.
Redford said he, like many others, had shown a "spirit of unity" with the US government after 11 September 2001.
"We put all our concerns on hold to let the leaders lead," he said. "I think we're owed a big, massive apology."
The actor, whose Sundance Institute for independent film runs the annual festival, usually steers clear of political messages in his opening speech.
Festival opener Chicago 10 recounts the demonstrations surrounding 1968's Democratic National Convention, which saw protestors clash with the National Guard.
Using a cutting-edge blend of historical footage and animation, director Brett Morgen's film examines the trial of the famed "Chicago Seven," who were convicted of inciting riots.
Morgen, who took the stage to a standing ovation after the screening, said one of his goals in making the film was to "mobilise the youth in the country to get out and stop this war".
His film is one of many referencing the Iraq conflict at this year's Sundance festival.
Ghosts of Abu Ghraib deals with the abuses that occurred in an Iraqi prison in 2003, while No End In Sight is an examination of the Bush administration's conduct in the country.
Taboos broken
The programme for the festival has attracted controversy with the inclusion of films that include shocking sexual content.
A documentary called Zoo deals with the practice of bestiality.
And the dark drama Hounddog portrays the rape of a young girl, played by 12-year-old actress Dakota Fanning.
"Those are issues that are on the table, whether you want to face them or not," said Redford.
"If you don't expose these things, if you don't put the light on them, then they could get worse."
But the event also features many films with a more uplifting feel.
The Good Life, from writer and director Steve Berra, tells of a young man running an old cinema in a small town.
Padre Nuestro is about a young man who meets up with a group of illegal immigrants heading from Mexico to New York after he chooses to flee his criminal past.
More than 120 films will be screened throughout the 10-day festival, which ends on 28 January.
This movie sounds like a total disgrace - perhaps leading to indictments and - I would like to hope - the reinstatement of the Hays Code!! It's, of course, top of the pops at the Sundance Festival.
And this looks like a wonderful, uplifting, family film!
Gorgeous picture! She was a tiny little thing too (about 4'11"). She was used in war documentaries to show women how not to get their hair caught in munition factory parts!
I loved Sneakers myself, but the anti-Bush slams in it served no purpose other than to stroke Redford's ego.
Demand?...DEMAND?...I got your DEMAND right here, LEATHERFACE, go find a horse to whisper your DEMANDS to and you'll get the same answer, "Go whisper on the other end"
Agree on "The Natural", but "A River Runs Through It"? Are you daft?? Saw that about 10 years ago, and I'm STILL waiting for something to happen in the movie. If I wanted to see a documentary on fishing, I'd much rather have seen Redford's hero (Teddy Ballgame) do it!
Regards, Ivan
I AM sorry... sorry that the resources of this country have been used to protect his sorry... self... from those who might otherwise want to kill this infidel...
Vietnam defines these creeps. They will never let it go even though their beloved Kennedy started it and another Democrat escalated it and then tied the hands of the military to ensure they couldn't pound N. Korea into submission.
what a bunch of *&^%$$$$^&*&()*&%.
Seconded!
The Electric Horseman's lights are out again.
Hope that takes care of your request.
Quite Sincerely, 'Pod.
Oh really, Mr. Redford? Here's the first thing I found after putting "Robert Redford"+"Iraq War" into Dogpile:
Robert Redford urges a different kind of patriotismDuncan Campbell in Los Angeles
Tuesday December 3, 2002
The GuardianThe actor and director Robert Redford has accused President Bush of pursuing a "dangerous and self-defeating" path in the Middle East and asserted that true American patriotism lies in reducing the country's dependence on oil. Redford is the latest public figure to attack the Bush administration's policy on Iraq and call for a new definition of patriotism.
"The Bush White House talks tough on military matters in the Middle East while remaining virtually silent about the long-term problems posed by US dependence on fossil fuels," Redford writes in an article in the Los Angeles Times. "The Bush administration's energy policy to date - a military garrison in the Middle East and drilling for oil in the Arctic and other fragile habitats - is costly, dangerous and self-defeating."
Redford can say what he wants when he wants, but he doesn't get to say "we kept our mouths shut" when he was running his mouth in support of Saddam's hijacking school 4 months before our troops went into combat.
Very well said.
Yeah, why the heck does this fool think I have to deal with the "issue" of some guy having sex with a goat. Through the goatboinker in jail for animal cruelty and the rest of us go on with our lives. Yeesh.
Redford is a has-been.
I'm still waiting for him to apologize for that crap he tries to pawn off as salad dressing.
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