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This Is What Democracy Looks Like

This Is What Democracy Looks Like

2000

Director

Jill Friedberg, Rick Rowley

Runtime

72 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

This film, shot by 100 amateur camera operators, tells the story of the enormous street protests in Seattle, Washington in November 1999, against the World Trade Organization summit being held there. Vowing to oppose, among other faults, the WTO's power to arbitrally overrule nations' environmental, social and labour policies in favour of unbridled corporate greed, protestors from all around came out in force to make their views known and stop the summit. Against them is a brutal police force and a hostile media as well as the stain of a minority of destructively overzealous comrades. Against all odds, the protesters bravely faced fierce opposition to take back the rightful democratic power that the political and corporate elite of the world is determined to deny the little people.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.9/10

Fair

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film prioritizes mass mobilization and systemic political critique over individual identity politics. While the protests appear diverse, specific LGBTQ+ narratives or non-cisnormative depictions are not central to the narrative.

Gender Representation

Fair

By centering the agency of the masses, the film disrupts traditional 'great man' historical tropes. However, it does not explicitly articulate specific gender-based power dynamics or the subversion of masculinity.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

The documentary depicts a multi-ethnic coalition of protesters united against a singular institutional target. This mosaic of identities serves as a metaphor for intersectional solidarity against centralized power.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The film offers a robust critique of neoliberal capitalism and Western institutional power. It celebrates anti-authoritarianism and the reclamation of democratic agency against corporate and political elites.

Disability Representation

Fair

The narrative focuses on the collective movement and physical chaos of street protests. There is no specific evidence regarding the inclusion of neurodivergent individuals or visible disability advocacy.

Strengths

  • The participatory filmmaking model empowers a decentralized, grassroots narrative.
  • The film effectively depicts a multi-ethnic coalition, showcasing intersectional solidarity.
  • It provides a powerful systemic critique of neoliberalism and corporate power.

Areas for Improvement

  • The film lacks specific narratives regarding LGBTQ+ identities.
  • There is minimal focus on disability representation or accessibility.
  • Gender-based power dynamics are not explicitly explored or articulated.

AI Analysis

This documentary utilizes a decentralized filmmaking model, employing 100 amateur camera operators to disrupt traditional journalistic hierarchies. This participatory approach shifts the focus from elite decision-makers to a grassroots collective. The film excels at presenting a systemic critique of global capitalism and deconstructing institutional authority. It frames the protest movement as a diverse, multi-ethnic coalition resisting a centralized power structure. However, the work lacks depth regarding individual identity markers. While it captures a broad spectrum of people, it does not provide specific narratives for LGBTQ+ or disability-focused advocacy.

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