River: inspiring call to action The River. Directed by Mark Rydell. Starring Sissy Spacek and Mel Gibson. A Universal Pictures release. At local theatres. A number of Hollywood films have taken as their themes the suffering and anger of the poor. But these ‘films have a tendency of stopping short of political analysis or accusation, as if the plot and ‘characters are suddenly freeze-framed on their way toward historical inevitability. In this atmosphere of ideological suppres- sion, The River stands as an amazingly Outspoken film, in fact one of the most socially-conscious to emerge recently from Hollywood. The film story is based on a real incident in Tennessee, where starving farmers went to work in a nearby steel mill, unaware that the steelworkers were out strike. The farmers were forced to remain at the mill ina kind of regimented labor camp. In the film, a larger story is built around this Situation, focusing on the general plight of farmers in the Holston Valley of Eastern Tennesee, and one family in particular. The Garvey family struggles yearly to maintain their crop ona plot of land that is fertile, but that is best by harsh rains and devastating floods. The Garveys and other families have managed to survive until recently, when a more formidable force than nature appears, a powerful busi- hessman who wants to buy up all the farms so he can flood the whole area for his own economic plans. This developer will stop at nothing to force the farmers off their land — from undercutting farm pri- Ces to pressuring the local bank to squeeze them out. Destitute farmers, stripped of their land begin to crowd into the towns, setting up homeless outdoor encamp- ments. There are painful, humiliating foreclosure sales where one family is put on display like a commodity by the auctioneers. Garvey and his family are one of the last holdouts, so they become a special target of the developer. After Gar- vey is refused additional bank loans to replace a crop damaged by the last flood, he goes to work at the struck mill. Though upset about being a scab, he is more preoccupied with the survival of his own family, as are the other desperate and starving army of unemployed who work im {cue RRR TES Films pee ‘cnet arene ae ae with him. When the strike is over and the scabs are ejected from the mill, Garvey returns to face a new flood. The developer, who has exhausted all possible strategies to pressure the Garveys off the land, seizes this new crisis as an opportunity to destroy once and for all the Garvey farm, by hiring a battalion of homeless farmers to disman- tle Garvey’s makeshift sandbag levee and flood his land. In the final powerful and devastating scene, Garvey squares off against these destitute men who survival is pitted against his own, just as he had once confronted the striking steelworkers. The men, however, in witnessing Garvey’s plight, are moved to identify with him collectively, as his suffering becomes a mirror of their own, and they are drawn together in a magnificent bond, discover- ing in their critical moment of enlighten- ment, the true enemy. This film is an unprecedented and cour- ageous work because, where other films similar in theme, like Country merely imply an exploiting class, either through abstract concepts symbolizing capitalism or by displacing the blame onto a confused and powerless bureaucracy, The River dares to identify the oppressor, to desig- nate a flesh and blood role in the film, and to show in detail the methods used to divide, control and destroy people. The film is also a clear indictment of “rugged individualism,” a value which the system promotes as a divisive weapon among working people. The story tells us, through its intense dramatic vision, that we ourselves are at fault if we fail to act collectively. But most important, this remarkable film presents us with images of ourselves and our possibilities, a blueprint for a beginning dialogue among workers, farmers and the unemployed. The River ends with a significant popular victory against a class that acknowledges tempor- ary defeat but is willing to wait like a patient predator for the next opportunity, feeding off the successsion of disasters which the oppressed live on the brink of constantly, under the capitalist system. The question is tossed into the lap of the audience — will we struggle separately as individuals or with the power of our numbers. The film stands as a brave and inspiring call to action. — Prairie ellen phillip rankin Paul momurray Barristers & Solicitors. 157 Alexander Street 2nd floor ; Vancouver, B.C. V6A 1B8 682-3621 So where are the jobs in the private sector? Mabel Richards, Victoria, writes: When the Trudeau government introduced wage controls nearly a decade ago it was in the name of cutting costs in the public and private sectors so that free enterprisers could get on with revitalizing the economy. - Two years ago, the B.C. government resur- rected the theory to give the business sector another shot in the arm, but it has been no more successful that the first injection, as ’ any fool can plainly see. All these gambits have proved is that big business, despite being coddled, subsidized and pandered to, is incapable of providing jobs in a revitalized economy, nor have they ever entertained any serious plan for doing | JOIN THE GREAT nas aaa ee ar or mS as cas, Ae | ee | : ee ; PTE NSN, With GLOBE TOURS For any of your travel needs big or small. Let Globe Tours find the best way for you. Specializing in tours to the USSR GLOBE TOURS 2679 E. Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C. V5K 125 253-1221 < Letters so. It appears their only answer, and that of Mulroney and Bennett, is to prostrate themselves before .U.S. money moguls and Pentagon generals to beg for a piece of the armaments pie. In the meantime the Victoria Times-Colonist reveals in a Det. 22 _ story that a lonely department store, Eatons, is the top private sector employer here. In a city of some 220,000 people, a few stores and hotels array the flag for free enterprise with 4,083 persons on their pay- rolls! Let’s hear it for restraint! Classified Advertising COMING EVENTS FEB. 17 — Hold this day open for JOSE MARTI Celebration. Sponsored by Canadian Cuban Friendship Association. FEB. 3-24 — BASICS Series ‘85. A set of 4 introductory classes on Marxist theory and practice held on consecutive Sunday evenings in Vancouver and Surrey (Feb. 10 to Mar. 3) Registration fee: $10. Admission by pre- registration only. For more info. write Gr. Van. Cttee. CPC, #102, 2747 E. Hastings St., Van. B.C. V5K 1Z8 or phone Miguel Figueroa at 254-9836. COMMERCIAL ‘GRAMMA PUBLICATIONS. Complete print- ing services. Brochures, menus, leaflets, etc. A union shop. 1595 W. 3rd Ave., Vancouver. Hours: Mon-Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 733-6822. ELECTRICAL, plumbing, appliance repairs. Don Berg. 255-7287. GENERAL INSURANCE, home, business, trade unions. Dave Morton, bus. 986-9351; res. 433-4568. DRYWALL, TAPING, Spray-tex, T-Bar ceil- ings. Tony 596-1355. KARL ZUKER Jewellery Repairs Reasonable Charge 254-7678 DIRECTORY COMMUNIST PARTY OF CANADA offices located at 102, 2747 E. Hastings St. Vancouver. Phone 254-9836. Office hours 9:30-12 noon; 1-5 p.m. Mon. to Fri. For information on political issues or assistance in political activity. HALLS FOR RENT RUSSIAN PEOPLE’S HOME — Available for rentals. For reservations phone 254-3430. UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CULTURAL CENTRE — 805 East Pender St. Vancouver. Available for banquets, weddings, meetings. Phone 254-3436. Classified advertising rates $1 per line per week. Deadline for insertions. Wednesday of week prior to publication. RANKIN & COMPANY Barristers & Solicitors 4th Floor, 195 Alexander St. Vancouver, B.C. V6A IN8 682-2781 Offers a broad range of legal services including: Personal Injury & Insurance claims Real Estate & Conveyancing Divorce & Family Law Labour Law - Criminal Law Estates & Wills @eeee0 ’ 40% off all Soviet books in translation 40th Anniversary Sale Jan. 21 to Feb. 2 regular prices on People’s Co-op Bookstore 1391 Commercial Drive, Vancouver Telephone: 253-6442 © 20% off all other books in stock PACIFIC TRIBUNE, JANUARY 23, 1985 e 11