PopViolence

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Nelson Mandela and his leadership in the wake apartheid in South Africa, considered through a story about the 1995 Rugby World Cup, where the Springboks of South Africa prevailed against fierce international competition in addition to intense and complex domestic pressures.

Invictus (2009) starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, directed by Clint Eastwood, written for the screen by Anthony Peckham, based on John Carlin's book "Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made a Nation". Nelson Mandela, in his first term as president of South Africa, initiates a unique venture to unite the Apartheid-torn land: enlist the national rugby team on a mission to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup. (IMDB)

Featured in this episode of PopViolence are two podcast hosts from the organization PeacePlayers. Their podcast debuts July 12, and is called Play it Forward; "Through the lens of activism in sports presented by PeacePlayers International, Play it Forward will feature conversations with youth leaders, community organizers, industry experts and those using sport as a tool for positive change around the world."

This episode confronts the themes of the film, like forgiveness and reconciliation, and how they are desirable outcomes that may not have been depicted in a way that deeply considers how such progress can be made in the wake of intense and overt oppressive regime change (or in any context of systemic violence really). While the meaning of the film takes the foreground, the conversation is deeply connected to issues around racial justice and and equity.

"I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended." -Nelson Mandela

"Poverty is not an accident. Like slavery and apartheid, it is man-made and can be removed by the actions of human beings. -Nelson Mandela

"Freedom is indivisible; the chains on any one of my people were the chains on all of them, the chains on all of my people were the chains on me." -Nelson Mandela

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Daniel Plainview against Eli Sunday. A tale about the violent unfolding of human history played through the visceral rivalry between an oilman and a pastor.

There Will Be Blood (2007) starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano, written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and based on the novel Oil! by Upton Sinclair. "A story of family, religion, hatred, oil and madness, focusing on a turn-of-the-century prospector in the early days of the business." (IMDB)

This episode of PopViolence features a guest review from Angie Tolomei, a writer, director, and actor from Bridgewater College who presents both a deep passion for and incredibly well-researched analysis on There Will Be Blood. Under Angie's lead, the podcast moves through contemplation on the deep thematic and social implications of the film, and enthusiastic discussion about everything from the acting, score, writing, and dialogue to individual memorable shots and single moments.

Sources: Gregory Alan Phipps "Making Milk into a Milkshake: Adapting Upton Sinclair's 'Oil!' into PT Anderson's 'There Will Be Blood'"

George Toles "Paul Thomas Anderson (Contemporary Film Directors)"

Adam Nayman "Paul Thomas Anderson Masterworks"

Follow PopViolence on Instagram: @pop.violence

Molly Lambert: "Why not tell several different stories with loose threads? Why limit yourself to one great performance in a movie when you can get 20? Why pick on genre when you can pull from everything and make movies that push the whole idea of a genre to it's city limits?"

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.