The World Cinema Showcase has two political films that might be of interest,

THE TRIALS OF HENRY KISSINGER, and
POWER AND TERROR: NOAM CHOMSKY IN OUR TIMES.

THE TRIALS OF HENRY KISSINGER

IS AMERICA'S REVERED ELDER STATESMAN AND NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER A WAR CRIMINAL?

"Eugene Jarecki's documentary takes a hard-line, left-of-centre look at the moral doings of Henry Kissinger. In light of the trials of such official rogues as Slobodan Milosevic, this BBC production feels it's high time to be morally even-handed. The film casts (or exposes, depending on your political choice of language) him as power player, kingmaker, agent of collusion, Zen manipulator (and Nobel Peace Prize winner, to boot) behind many significant events of the 20th century: the initial failure of the Vietnam War peace talks (due in part, the film maintains, to Kissinger's personal political agenda), the secret bombing of Cambodia, the military coup of Salvador Allende in Chile and the Indonesian invasion of East Timor. And no matter what your view on the actions of this American statesman - interviewed reporters Seymour M. Hersh and Christopher Hitchens (who wrote "The Trial of Henry Kissinger") condemn him unequivocally as a murderous, lying criminal - it makes compelling, provocative and prescient viewing. You can draw your own conclusions." - Desson Howe, The Washington Post

THE TRIALS OF HENRY KISSINGER will be screened at the Paramount, Wellington on the following times: Sat 19 April at 12:30pm, Sun 20 April at 6:30pm, Mon 21 April at 4:15pm

POWER AND TERROR: NOAM CHOMSKY IN OUR TIMES

Whether Noam Chomsky, the linguist and political philosopher, is "the most important intellectual alive," as the New York Times once famously called him, is open for debate. But without a doubt, Chomsky, now 73, is one of the most straight-talking and committed dissidents of our time. A long-time critic of United States foreign policy, his public profile took a quantum leap after the terrorist attacks of September 11. In the months that followed, he gave dozens of talks on four continents, conducted scores of interviews, and published a book - 9-11 - that became a surprise best-seller all over the world. Power And Terror, a Japanese production, directed by American John Junkerman, presents the latest in Chomsky's thinking, through a lengthy interview and a series of public talks that he gave in New York and California during the spring of 2002. "A lively introduction to the highly articulate political dissident. For those who know Chomsky's work, the documentary offers a glimpse of the tireless passion, patience and openness of the man behind the words." - Variety

"A forceful and sometimes humorous take on US foreign affairs. Offers a bully pulpit to a thinker who's not a bully." - Darren D'Addario, Time Out NY

POWER AND TERROR will be screened at the Paramount Theatre, Wellington, on the following times: Sat 12 April at 4:15pm, Sun 13 April at 12:15pm, Mon 14 April at 4:15pm, Tue 15 April at 6:30pm

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