Astra Taylor’s timely and provocative National Film Board of Canada feature What Is Democracy? Will be featured at Awareness Film Night on Feb. 13.
Coming at a moment of profound political and social crisis, this documentary reflects on a word we often take for granted.
“A word we say and hear all the time, but rarely reflect on, ‘democracy’ is both an ideal and a reality, a rousing aspiration and a devastating disappointment. Who are the people, especially in this moment of increasing hostility and division? And what about the fact that, as wealth and influence concentrate, the people are not very powerful at all? Can self-government live up to its promise of universal inclusion? Do we even want to rule ourselves?” Astra said in a recent interview.
What Is Democracy spans millennia and continents from ancient Athens, the birthplace of modern democracy to the U.S. today and its growing gap between rich and poor and persistent racism. Featuring a diverse cast including celebrated theorists, trauma surgeons, activists, factory workers, asylum seekers and former prime ministers, this film is an invitation to think about how well democracy as it has evolved is working for “the people.”
Filmgoers are invited and encouraged to be part of a short post-screening discussion on democracy facilitated by Transition Sooke’s co-president Michael Tacon.
Awareness Film Night is held at EMCS community theatre, beginning at 7 p.m. The film night will go from 7-9:15 p.m. Admission is by donation.
More info: awarenessfilmnight.ca