[Oe List ...] Man on Fire

[W. J.]

Obviously, it's the 'wrong' time of year, when PBS could slip in something totally 'out of character' with the holiday season without much fanfare or public response.But for those of us who knew and respected Charles as a colleague and friend, this film was hard to miss. And very hard to see. At least for me.I am struck by the absence of any reference to the film here, let alone commentary.So let's have a movie conversation! Starting with, "What scene in the film stayed with you?"Your turn, folks.And on top of this tragedy, try to have a very Merry Christmas! If you can. With a long government shutdown about to happen. Too bad we can't shut down Mr. Trump and his Twitter feed.MarshallYou can view 'Man on Fire' here for free on-line through January 1:Man on Fire | Independent Lens
Herewith, in case you missed it, is the

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

On one level, “Man on Fire” is an investigation into the human spirit. As Charles Moore said in his “suicide” letter, “Our human race is impressed most of all with innocent suffering, and is moved significantly by little else. It isn’t important that I be remembered, but that someone cared enough to give up everything for the sake of others.” These words hold truth for us as a society, yet I, and others, question why someone chose this extreme measure to get our attention. I believe everyone has a piece of Moore in them, whether they are aware of it or not. This yearning to do more, to help others, to sacrifice for the larger good, compels our humanity. So when someone like Moore comes around, at least on the surface, we find ourselves awestruck, riddled with contradicting emotions. On one hand, we see the goodness in Moore, the love of humanity that compelled his actions; yet, on the other hand, the pain of his death overwhelms us too. This complexity was compounded with questions that others were asking in and around Grand Saline: Why did he do it? Is racism still in Grand Saline? Did he actually change anything? These questions were the seeds we planted, and through the process of filming, nurtured, in order to give some semblance of resolve for such an extreme act. Unfortunately (but also quite naturally), the answers to these questions are not so “black and white.” Thus, I hope this film inspires others to also ask these questions and sparks a real conversation on Moore’s death and the reality of racism. Inevitably, some people will write off Moore as crazy, using facts such as “we got a black president” (a quote from the film) to claim that racism doesn‘t exist anymore. However, I believe the answers are more complicated than that. “Man on Fire” uses Moore’s self-immolation as a vehicle to explore this small, mostly white town known for its racism. Moore’s death thus becomes the means to scratch beneath the surface of Grand Saline. The film captures the reality of small town Texas, illustrating Friday night football games, rodeos, homecoming parades, skating rinks, flea market sales, local businesses, and more. Nonetheless, the town of Grand Saline is just a microcosm for the rural south and inevitably America as a whole.

Joel Fendelman, Director of “Man on Fire”

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Man on Fire | Independent Lens
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