Battle in Seattle - In Theaters Now

Last night, we watched Battle in Seattle at the Angelika Theater. After the film, there was a Q&A session with director Stuart Townsend and stars Charlize Theron and Martin Henderson.

Battle in Seattle Trailer


I first heard about Battle in Seattle while reading an email from The Sierra Club. They are sponsoring a free viewing on Thursday with United Steelworkers and NY Citizens Trade Coalition. Then I saw an interview with Charlize Theron on The Daily Show. Check it out here. After learning about the Q&A session, I immediately purchased tickets.

I was interested to see this movie to learn more about the WTO conference in Seattle. At UCSB I worked as a news director for KCSB, the campus radio station. I remember talking to students about their experience protesting the WTO in 1999. [Check out this interesting article from the Nexus archives written one year after the demonstrations.] However, some time has gone by since then and I was hopeful that this movie would discuss the different sides involved. I also wanted to support Stuart Townsend's movie and hear about Townsend, Theron, and Henderson's experiences while making this film.

Townsend explained that originally he was interested in environmentalism. Then he read the book Take it Personally By Anita Roddick which helped him realize that the environment is so connected to politics, and connected to globalization. He feels this movie is about story-telling that really means something. That people can make a difference. He has spent the last 6 months creating the website because he knew people would ask themselves What Can I Do? when they left the theater. They have partnered with action groups for virgin forests, wild oceans, safe food, fair trade, and clean energy. You can find informational sections regarding these issues on the website.

The film is not scheduled for a wide release. It is currently playing in SF, DC, NY, San Rafael, Minneapolis, and Seattle. Next Wednesday it will start playing in Sacramento, and next Friday in LA, Berkeley, San Jose, Columbus, Chicago, Detroit, Boston, and Pittsburgh. On October it will open in select cities in CA, CO, NC, OH, OR, PA, PN, TX, WI, WA, WN. Click here for the complete list of theaters.

I strongly recommend that you watch this movie if it is playing near where you live. If you do not, request that it come to your city. Rent it when it is released on DVD. If you are a teacher share it with your classroom. And, make sure to visit the site to learn more.

This is a movie based on the events that took place on the streets of Seattle during the WTO Ministerial Conference. It is not a documentary but a story told through fictional characters. Battle in Seattle is a passionate, dramatic, informative movie about empowerment. I hope Americans will be receptive to this film and its message - People before Profits.