Today, he spotlights Silenced.
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Silenced Directed by James Spione Wednesday, November 19, 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, November 19, 9 p.m. Thursday, November 20, 6:30 p.m. SDFF Sie FilmCenterSilenced is "a documentary about whistleblowers and their persecution by the American government for telling the truth -- so it's very timely," Withey says. "It's mostly post-9/11 and goes through the Bush and Obama administrations and shows how everything has changed.
"The film focuses on three people who came out against the National Security Agency and the CIA counter-terrorism operations in Pakistan, as well as some anti-terrorist actions that were handled by the Justice Department. All of them are exposing things that we may feel we've heard before, but not these exact stories.
"It's a very frustrating film in many ways. Even when you think to yourself, 'I know that,' you don't. The film touches on the history of whistleblowing, going back to Watergate and the Pentagon Papers, and makes it clear that it's an American's right to blow the whistle. But it's become an act of civil disobedience, with people being aggressively prosecuted and feeling that they have to leave the country and hide out because they fear they may face either lifelong imprisonment or perhaps bodily harm. It's a very disturbing film."Look below to see a promotional video about Silenced featuring actress Susan Sarandon, as well as an interview with director James Spione about the film. To access all the film festival's selections and purchase tickets, click here -- and be sure be to visit our Show and Tell blog each day during the fest for more of Brit's picks.
Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.
