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UID:Indybay-18738478
SEQUENCE:18843146
CREATED:20130615T184400Z
DESCRIPTION:The Spirit of ‘45 (94 min. 2013) UK, SF Premiere \nBy Ken Loach 
 \nLaborFest is proud to launch its opening with the US premier screening of 
 the new Ken Loach film, Spirit of ‘45. Ken Loach is the leading film 
 maker in the world about working people and the issues they face, including 
 his work “Bread and Roses” about the organizing of immigrant janitors 
 in Los Angeles. His new documentary film is about the end of the 2nd World 
 War and the pivotal year, 1945, which saw a major transformation take place 
 in England with the introduction of national healthcare and nationalization 
 of the railroads and mines. Workers not only in England but also in the US 
 were unwilling to go back to poverty and the depression, and were ready for 
 action to defend their unions and human rights. In 1946, in fact, there was 
 the last general strike in the US when workers struck to back clerical 
 workers in Oakland. The film presents archival material, and we see and 
 hear how workers perceived these major changes and what differences it made 
 in their daily lives. \n\n Attending the opening and introducing the film 
 will be Dot Gibson, one of the voices in the documentary, who is also chair 
 of the National Pensioners’ Convention, which links up retired workers 
 and unions who are fighting to defend their social security benefits so 
 they do not sink into poverty. The attack on the social rights and benefits 
 were, of course, joined by UK Prime Minister Thatcher and her ally, former 
 President Ronald Reagan, to attack the welfare state and social rights. 
 Their motto was only that the market should determine your life and your 
 future.\nThis film shows that working people can successfully confront 
 issues facing them; the gains made by the British working people after the 
 war are important lessons for American workers today.\n\n“The Second 
 World War was a struggle, perhaps the most considerable collective struggle 
 this country has ever experienced. While others made greater sacrifices, 
 the people of Russia, for example, the determination to build a better 
 world was as strong here as anywhere. Never again, it was believed, would 
 we allow poverty, unemployment and the rise of fascism to disfigure our 
 lives."\n\n"We had won the war together; together we could win the peace. 
 If we could plan to wage military campaigns, could we not plan to build 
 houses, create a health service, transport system and to make goods that we 
 needed for reconstruction?"\n\n"The central idea was common ownership, 
 where production and services were to benefit all. The few should not get 
 rich to the detriment of everyone else. It was a noble idea, popular and 
 acclaimed by the majority. It was the Spirit of 1945. Maybe it is time to 
 remember it today.”\n- Ken Loach\nSee 
 also:\nhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0516360/bio (biography of Ken 
 Loach)\nhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0516360/awards 
 \nhttp://www.laborfest.net/2013/2013Films.htm#f5\nhttp://www.laborfest.net/2013/2013schedule.htm\n 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/06/15/18738478.php
SUMMARY:Laborfest: The Spirit of ‘45 SF Premiere
LOCATION:Victoria Theatre - 2961 16th St. near Mission St., San Francisco.  16th St 
 BART station.\n
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/06/15/18738478.php
DTSTART:20130706T020000Z
DTEND:20130706T040000Z
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