We just got back from the International Premiere of Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?

[GumboYaYa]

The movie played in the Oxdox International Film Festival in Oxford, Milton Keynes, and London and then at the International Human Rights Film Festival in Paris. It won the Golden Ox for Best Feature at Oxdox and the Special Jury Prize for Creative Documentary at the International Human Rights Film Festival.

It was great to win awards at both festivals, but it was even more gratifying to see how Europeans react to the movie on several levels.

The concept of gerrymandering was unfathomable to them. They had no idea that Congress essentially picks the voters instead of the voters picking Congress in America.

We also heard time and time again that it was reassuring to them to see a movie that showed Americans doing the right thing in politics. They had started to beleive that all Americans are Republicans.

The most common comment however was that every one in Europe is intensely interested in American politics, almost more than their own, because of the impact we have on the world they live in.

I came away even more convinced that we have an obligation not just to our country, but to the world, to right the ship in America and get rid of the money and special interests that have taken over the process.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. they loved it as much as I did then!

Good on you!
:bounce:

[GumboYaYa]

2. I was nervous about how foreign audiences would react.

Some of the humor went right over people's heads, particularly in the French translation, but the overall message was received the same.