The Labor Documentary Film Festival was held the whole day of September 1st in Tokyo. There were 7 films on the program which all looked interesting, but unfortunately, I could only watch 2 movies until noon since I had a previous engagement in the afternoon. I’ll write about that event in another article at another time. Anyway, I got new insights from 2 different types movies. How do citizens and worker attain power fight against big companies or the government? What is the difficulty in spreading the influence of correct information and judgment?
The first movie was “Salt of the Earth”, directed by Herbert J. Biberman in 1954. One of the protagonists, Ramon Quintero had worked at a Zinc mining company in New Mexico USA. His wife, Esperanza (3)pointed out that the land that the company occupied was originally her grand father’s but nobody recognized it and they are suffering from poverty. Furthermore, she was pregnant with their 3rd child. Ramon can’t (2)put up with the dangerous work in the Zinc mine anymore, so he requests the manager to change the work system to a safer way. The company rejected it, thus the workers decided to go on a general strike.
Firstly Ramon (4)had a brush with the law due to his inflicting injury on another person but it’s a bum rap. The company tricked him. He was discharged, but the strike still continued. The Court decided if the workers didn’t stop the strike, the company can dismiss them. Furthermore, If the workers continued the strike, the police can arrest them. The workers thought it was a dead end. However, their wives suggested that they were not workers, thus the wives can continue the strike instead of their husbands. The men reluctantly accepted that idea. The wives did it, but over 20 wives were arrested along with their babies, including Esperanza. However, they yelled slogans in jail. (1)Put them up, give formula, give bread, etc… Finally, the sheriffs prepared the beds in the jail. Their strategy was a success.
This movie shows 3 types of discrimination and friction; Capitalist VS worker, Caucasians VS Mexicans, Men VS Women. Thus, this movie still has a strong power because unfortunately, that kind of conflict is still relevant today.
The second documentary movie is the resistance to the creation of a new U.S military base in Okinawa. One of the critics (3)pointed out the real situation correctly. We can see the structure of bullying which means the government and citizens of mainland Japan as if they were bullying Okinawa. Some citizens fiercely resist, some citizen are lethargic and (2)put up with the situation.
I learned the power of solidarity from these 2 documentaries. However, it’s not so easy because it requires indomitable resolve, sacrifice and a powerful story to connect people.
Before the Revision
Title: The Power Of Solidarity.
The Labor Documentary Film Festival was held on 1st September the whole day in Tokyo. There were 7 films on the program which looked all interesting, but unfortunately, I could watch only 2 movies until noon. Because I already reserved another event in the afternoon. I’ll write about that event another article another time. Anyway, I got new insight from 2 different type movies. How to get the power the citizen and worker fight against a big company or government? What is the difficulty for spread and influence of correct information and judgment?
The first is “Salt of the Earth”, directed by Herbert J. Biberman in 1954. One of the protagonists, Ramon Quintero had worked at a Zinc mine company in New Mexico USA. His wife, Esperanza (3)pointed out the land where the company occupied was originally her grand father’s one. but nobody recognized it and they are suffering from poorness. Furthermore, she pregnant about the 3rd child. Ramon can’t (2)put up with dangerous work of Zinc mine anymore, he requests the manager to change the system safer way. The company didn’t accept it, thus the workers decided to do a general strike.
Firstly Ramon (4)had a brush with the law of inflicting injury, but it’s a bum rap. The company tricked him. He was discharged, but that strike still continued. The Court decided if the workers don’t stop the strike, the company can dismiss them. Furthermore, If the workers continue the strike, the police can arrest them. The worker thought it’s the dead end. However, Wives suggested that the women didn’t include workers, thus wives can continue the strike instead of husbands. Men accepted that idea reluctantly. The wives did it, but Over 20 wives arrested along with their baby, including Esperanza. However, they yelling a slogan in chorus in jail. (1)Put them up, give formula, give bread, etc… Finally, the sheriffs prepared the beds in the jail. Their strategy was a success.
This movie shows 3 types of discrimination and friction; Capitalist VS worker, Caucasian VS Mexican, Man VS Woman. Thus, this movie still has a strong power because unfortunately, that kind of conflict is still not out of the date.
The second documentary movie is the resistance about new creation of the U.S military base in Okinawa. One of the critics (3)pointed out the real situation correctly. We can see the structure of bullying which means the government and citizen of the mainland in Japan like as bullying Okinawa. Some citizen fiercely resists, some citizen lethargic and (2)put up with the situation.
I learned the power of solidarity from these 2 documentaries. However, it’s not so easy because it requires indomitable resolve, sacrifice and powerful story for connected people.
homework:
(1) put (someone) up: Accommodate; give someone a bed.
(e.g) “We can put you up if you’d like to come for the week-end.”
うちに泊まれるよ、もし週末に来たかったら。
(2) put up with: Tolerate.
(e.g) “I don’t know how you can put up with the noise of all that traffic.”
あなたがどうしてあんな交通騒音を耐えられるのか分からない。
(3) point out: Indicate; direct attention to something.
(e.g) “My mother pointed out the house where she grew up.”
母は自分が育った家を指さした。
(4)have a brush with: When you have a brush with something, such as the law, you encounter or experience it briefly.
(e.g) Had a brush with the law for speeding a few years ago, but he has had a clean record ever since.
2～3年前にスピード違反で捕まったが、それ以来、彼は無事故無違反だ。
notice
In this article, I try to appropriate use 4 phrasal verbs(No.1~4) in this article which I write my daily life and thoughts because I’m learning English. This is one of writing training.
