Living Utopia (Vivir la utopía), a remarkable film about anarchism in the Spanish Revolution will be shown at the Labia on Orange cinema in Cape Town on Thursday 2 April at 8.30pm.
Living Utopia is a unique feature-length documentary (90 minutes; Spanish with English subtitles) which chronicles the origins and evolution of the Spanish anarchist movement and its important role during the Spanish Revolution (1936-1939). The largest community of its kind in Europe at the time, millions of peasants and urban workers successfully established a society based on equality, mutual aid, participatory democracy and self-organisation – all without a central state or government. This fascinating yet largely unknown social experiment was eventually destroyed by forces from inside and outside the country.
Featuring rare archival footage and interviews with surviving participants, Living Utopia is considered to be one of the most important documentaries on the subject and what it lacks in high-brow cinematic quality it makes up for with the passion of the people whose story it tells. A jewel for historians and rebel hearts alike.
Ahead of South Africa’s elections, Living Utopia raises challenging questions regarding the nature of our own democracy and presents inspirational examples of a progressive, grassroots alternative to doing politics as usual. Anyone with an anarchic, anti-authoritarian or autonomist streak dare not miss this once-off screening.
The screening will be followed by a facilitated audience discussion. Tickets are R20 and can be reserved by calling The Labia at (021) 424 5927. Reserving tickets is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment.
This event is presented by The Labia and While You Were Sleeping and NOPE!
While You Were Sleepingis a Cape Town-based non-profit film collective committed to bringing progressive, non-mainstream documentaries with important social and environmental messages to South African audiences.
NOPE! is a motley collection of lefties of various persuasions who are unsatisfied with the political options presented to us by way of the upcoming elections. NOPE! refuses the logic of election politics because we refuse to accept that a small cross on a ballot can ever constitute democracy; can ever be a substitute for what we can achieve together as friends and comrades. We seek vibrant critical space beyond bureaucratized politics-as-usual, to configure a society of equality and justice. And we welcome all who share this commitment.
Contacts:
The Labia:
021 424 5927
While You Were Sleeping
Andreas Späth
084 772 1056
Andreas_Spath@yahoo.com
NOPE!
while you were sleeping 