Born in Flames

Members of the Democratic Party in 2017 should be forced to watch this, Clockwork Orange-style, until they learn three important lessons: 1) racism and sexism are intrinsically tied to class; 2) direct, sometimes violent, action is vital and necessary; 3) for god's sake, unify.

Born in Flames shows a future in which women are still fighting for a position at the table; a table which is set in a new American socialist state. Director Lizzie Borden shows that even in a socialist society where all are equal women would still be treated as second class citizens. Born in Flames ascribes to Malcolm X school of revolutionary thought, forgoing the pacifist way of Martin Luther King Jr. or Ghandi. The film did a good job making a point and presenting it to the audience.

Born in Flames does a great job illustrating the very real political difference between relying on the state and relying on direct participation, a distinction that ultimately manifests itself in entirely different forms of media and political action. I could have used maybe one or two less montages, but the low budget, faux-documentary-shot-on-the-streets vibe works both visually and as a rhetorical device.

A proud ancestor of riot grrrl and a zine in cinematic form. It's a classic example of the evergreen lesson that it ain't the tools that make a picture; it's the eye.

Surprisingly relevant with the current political climate. A little preachy and very rough around the edges, but it's worth looking past those things for an interesting look at political factionalism through an 80s feminist lens.

Definitely a little sus politically. Ragging against a “socialist” state (in the time when America was attempting to dismantle every left wing government) as an act of revolutionary cinema. Okay. Also, the director going on to make some movies for Playboy TV definitely setting of the sus alarm. Still, I loved this aesthetically. Not that far from like a punk Godard. The interspersing of the news reels was a cool idea. loved the title song. Just annoying enough to be a Talking Heads song.

Really loved the collage style and am amazed at how far ahead of their time the ideas expressed in this film is - even now these things are only just beginning to be considered more than radical and fringe concepts.

The sus alarms are blasting on this one. Kathryn Bigelow. Anti-socialist. Director worked with playboy. Anarchist buuut still a cool New York movie

Such a brilliant, often disturbing, timeless alternate history sci-fi with a guerrilla documentary style that just makes everything even more powerful. Not even a socialist revolution is able to make things right. Media, church, state, men are all trying to make women 'return' to 'their place' -- family, home, kids. The only way is through organized, direct action, even if it involves bombing WTC -- last shots are so gripping -- or invading TV stations and forcing them to broadcast their voice.

newly relevant. kind of watched for adele bertei but her role got really cringey towards the end. oh well. i guess i'm cooler than her after all.

Couldn't look past Kathryn Bigelow's military propaganda oscar bait until now to realize she was not only at times an actress, but smoking. Damn

I'd like to be sympathetic, I really would. But the storytelling method is very disjointed (half of the time I didn't know anyone's name or what was going on) and I strongly disagree with the militaristic political message. Plus, that song just isn't good enough to warrant being played about 5 times.

An interesting idea to take a look at the development and results of a political uprising through a documentary-style film. Often difficult to follow what is the "past" and what is the "present" in the film's context. Somewhat loosely acted. Despite this, the attempt to capture ideas about change and revolution in film is captivating. Interesting to those with radical politics or links to New York in the late 70s and early 80s.

There's a lot of interesting stuff in this one, but it's unfortunately limited by its budget considerably. Most of the acting is mediocre at best. It just has an amateurish feel throughout, very rough around the edges and the whole thing feels as disjointed as the society it is portraying. A lot of interesting ideas and interesting conceptually, but I think it ultimate falls short of its potential.