“Labor Day” is the sort of well-intentioned documentary that seems naked without an accompanying panel discussion. Veteran nonfiction director-producer Glenn Silber (“The War At Home,” 1979, ABC’s “20/20”) follows the members of the SEUI, the two million strong Service Employees Interrogational Union through their involvement in the 2008 presidential campaign and their role in the election of Barack Obama. They still wield strength, which is why they’re still fielding attacks from those who oppose the involvement of Democrats in politics. I’m copacetic with most of the ideals on screen, but flat filmmaking and a barely inflected spirit of rah-rah-rah make this more a motivational or training item than a memorable nonfiction entry. It could as well be called “Look at What We Did!” Interviewees include politicians Bill Richardson and Dennis Kucinich, Ted Koppel and mainstream correspondents from Time and Newsweek. The SEIU reportedly holds partial copyright, while Silber claims final cut. 76m. (Ray Pride)
Ray Pride is Newcity’s film critic and a contributing editor to Filmmaker magazine.
His multimedia history of Chicago “Ghost Signs” will be published soon. Previews of the project are on Twitter and on Instagram as Ghost Signs Chicago. More photography on Instagram.
Talking Screens, September 2-8, 2022: $3 Movies, For A Day | 10 Remarkable Films | Ozon Makes Fassbinder Lite National Cinema Day. In Chicago: "The Creepshow: A Stephen King Film Festival"; ten remarkable films in "The Story of Film: A New Generation—A Film Series"; Chicago Film Society presents "Foolish Wives"; and a five-picture run for Pier Paolo Pasolini begins with "Mamma Roma." Plus, a pair of female-led Mexican wrestling movies. New films this week: "Peter Von Kant," "The Good…
“Labor Day” is the sort of well-intentioned documentary that seems naked without an accompanying panel discussion. Veteran nonfiction director-producer Glenn Silber (“The War At Home,” 1979, ABC’s “20/20”) follows the members of the SEUI, the two million strong Service Employees Interrogational Union through their involvement in the 2008 presidential campaign and their role in the election of Barack Obama. They still wield strength, which is why they’re still fielding attacks from those who oppose the involvement of Democrats in politics. I’m copacetic with most of the ideals on screen, but flat filmmaking and a barely inflected spirit of rah-rah-rah make this more a motivational or training item than a memorable nonfiction entry. It could as well be called “Look at What We Did!” Interviewees include politicians Bill Richardson and Dennis Kucinich, Ted Koppel and mainstream correspondents from Time and Newsweek. The SEIU reportedly holds partial copyright, while Silber claims final cut. 76m. (Ray Pride)
