“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 Senior Editor and Film Critic. He is a contributing editor of Filmmaker magazine.
Ray’s history of Chicago Ghost Signs is planned for publication next year. Previews of the project are on Twitter and on Instagram. More photography on Instagram.
Process The Day: Kelly Reichardt On Sculpting Showing Up "Showing Up" is the inspired title of Kelly Reichardt's sneaky, funny little masterpiece, beautifully measured, tender-yet-irritable telling of the daily life and low-level strife of a mid-career working artist, played by a formidably distracted Michelle Williams. The result is exquisite.
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)
