In the Press | Cultures of Resistance

Here you will find a sampling of press highlights, followed by an archive of media coverage of Cultures of Resistance's film work. To view an article, click on its title.

Press Highlights

Dazed & Confused interview with Iara Lee about the Syrian conflict and creative resistance
August 17, 2012

"The people in Syria wanted to stick to non-violence but they’ve been suffering so much brutality that they want to protect themselves. But there is nothing more polarising than giving weapons to people who are victims of repression, so it’s a very difficult balance. The international community needs to stop the flow of weapons into Syria. At the end of the day, the simplest truth is the truth: people are getting massacred and we need to help. Creative resistance, civil disobedience, putting pressure on governments not to be so lethargic. Twenty-four hours in a day is not even enough for all we can do."

Conn M. Hallinan reviews CoR at International Policy Digest
July 25, 2012

"One of the film's messages is that cultures of resistance—those that have the audacity to say 'no'—have things in common. Leadership is not something that resides in one group of people or in a given country, but is everywhere that people dig their heels in and fight back. The Buddhist monks that challenged the military dictatorship in Burma share common ground with the Occupy Wall Street movement. Israelis opposed to the occupation of Palestinian lands, and Palestinians resisting the spread of Israeli settlements, meet in the medium of rap.

"'We don’t have planes, missiles or white phosphorous' Lee told journalist Lisa Mullenneaux, 'but we have our freedom to resist oppression. To sing, dance, and express how we feel about world politics. Global solidarity is the only thing that can promote real change.'"

BBC World Service radio show The Strand celebrates CoR screening in Beijing
October 12, 2011

"This is a country where state run media showed very little of the Arab Spring uprising.... This kind of documentary is effectively beautifully photographed news.... I think the best way of describing [the response to the film] is that the audience—there must have been a hundred people or so in this venue—was moved."

National Iranian American Council's inSight blog profiles CoR films
September 8, 2011

"One might argue that art should not be political. However, these short films prove otherwise. The reason is that ordinary Iranian citizens are constantly being influenced and monitored by an oppressive regime, leaving no choice for artists but to overtly produce censored art and covertly produce art full of political notions, activism, and hope.

"Finally, what these Iranian artists and Cultures of Resistance activists have in common is the relentless questioning of assumptions and challenging of the stereotypes whether it is in Iran against its government or on the international level against the preconceived ideas about a particular country or a global issue. And for a time when a non-violent democratic movement is the only option for the Iranian youth, what better tool than art to carry the cries of a nation for democracy?"