The battle in seattle, a feature film based in the 1999 wto riots in seattle, opens this friday. Battle in seattle 2008 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Actorturnedfilmmaker stuart townsend makes his screenwriting and directorial debut with this ensemble film set during the 1999 world trade organization. In 1999, members of the world trade organization arrive in seattle for negotiations that are closed to the public. New documentary tells the story of seattles freeway. This movie also provides insight into the rationale of the police presence that is executing the task of. Thousands of activists arrive in seattle, washington in masses to protest the wto ministerial conference of 1999 world trade organization. Battle in seattle is a 2007 political action film and the directorial debut of actor stuart townsend, who also wrote the. Battle in seattle is a great work which simply tells the story of the wto riots in seattle, without an obvious bias at least in my opinion. Battle in seattle takes the actual 1999 protests against a summit meeting of the world trade organization and uses them as a backdrop for a. Battle in seattle 2007 thousands of activists arrive in seattle, washington in masses to protest the wto ministerial conference of 1999 world trade organization. Riots and chaos ensue as demonstrators successfully stop the wto meetings. The battle of seattle was a january 26, 1856 attack by native americans upon seattle, washington.
Set in 1999, during the world trade organization meeting in seattle, an eclectic group of demonstrators, including environmental activists. Art battle seattle turns painting into a live competition, complete with dj, audience and drinks oct. Where i was able to film simon lizotte jeremy koling, grady shue, and kevin jones. The film battle in seattle romanticises the 1999 wto protests but curiously avoids discussing the politics that sparked them fri 26 sep 2008 12. For all the scenes that are thoughtprovoking or emotionally real, others feel preachy or phony. The film premiered on may 22, 2008 at the seattle international film festival. Martin henderson, michelle rodriguez, woody harrelson, charlize theron. The issue that battle in seattle filmmaker stuart townsend seeks to raise, as he recently stated, is what it takes to create real and meaningful change.
Review from dublin international film festival, february 2008. Battle in seattle takes the actual 1999 protests against a summit meeting of the world trade organization and uses them as a backdrop for a fictional story about characters swept up in the tumult. Although it began as a peaceful protest with a goal of stopping the wto talks, it escalated into a fullscale riot and eventually, a state of emergency that pitted protesters. Well intentioned and passionate, this docudrama about the 1999 wto protests is heavier on politics than character development.
The story is based on the protest activity at the wto ministerial conference of 1999. Actor stuart townsend head in the clouds makes an accomplished writing and directing debut with battle in seattle, a fictionalized account of the 1999 world trade organization wto meetings and protests in seattle. In november 1999, seattle broke into a fullscale state of emergency as thousands of peaceful. Concerned about globalization, activists jay martin henderson, lou michelle. Battle in seattle brings back memories of wto riots. Film history timeline, city of seattle office of film and music, 2014 seattle film history. Filmmakers have been flocking to seattle ever since the citys film debut in 1933s tugboat annie. The battle in seattle antiglobalization forces are threatening to turn the wtos meeting on free trade into a freeforall by margot hornblowerseattle. Nine years after the world trade organization came to seattle, a new feature film sets out to dramatize the historic protests that the institutions meetings provoked. But it seems that for seattle the wounds still linger.
Activists arrive in seattle, washington en masse to protest a meeting of the world trade organization. With irish actor stuart townsends new film battle in seattle, his first as a writer and. Battle in seattle on dvd march 10, 2009 starring charlize theron, andre benjamin, martin henderson, woody harrelson. Were it not for the brutal force that met the protest by the seattle police initially, the organizers of the protest after the world trade organization wto conference had planned for a. An historical marker little noticed by the rest of the world, to be sure.
Six lives, six battles, one city thousands of activists arrive in seattle, washington in masses to protest the wto ministerial conference of 1999 world trade organization. Art battle seattle turns painting into a live competition. The event marked a major resurgence in the american protest movement, which had been declining in the wake of the turbulent 1960s, and it also alerted the rest of the world to a growing antiglobalization movement. Financial analysis of battle in seattle 2008 including budget, domestic and international box office gross, dvd and bluray sales reports, total earnings and profitability. The film also uses real footage during some parts which really help those who were not present during the riots see that the film isnt exaggerating how horrific peoples actions were on both sides. In november of 1999, seattle broke into a fullscale state of emergency as thousands of peaceful protesters gathered in resistance to the world. Walking into a film with no buzz on it is a particularly worrisome thing. Battle in seattle is a film produced in 2007 detailing the actions of an activist group who disrupts the world trade organization meetings in seattle, washington. Jackson played the shows resident bad boy from 1998 through 2003, wooing katie holmes joey potter and engaging in copious shenanigans in the small town of. It uses the approach of haskell wexlers medium cool 1969, but without the same urgency. Finally, the battle in seattle script is here for all you fans of the stuart townsend movie with charlize theron. A battle in seattle, staged with politics in mind based on events antiglobalization protests turned violent that occurred barely a decade ago, stuart townsends directorial debut plays.
Environmentalists, consumer advocates, labor unions, students, anarchists and pacifists all converged, bringing attention to how the wtos laws were affecting democracy around the world. Battle in seattle free full movie woody harrelson, channing. Although it began as a peaceful protest with a goal of stopping the wto talks, it escalated into a fullscale riot and eventually, a state of. Battle in seattle actiondrama activists arrive in seattle, washington en masse to protest a meeting of the world trade organization. The impact of the battle in seattle common dreams views. Thomson empire expressway and the bay freeway, two major freeway projects that would have displaced thousands of seattle residents and given. Find great recommendations for what to watch after youve finished bosch. Battle in seattle is a 2007 political action thriller film written and directed by stuart townsend, in his directorial debut. When an individual or organization wants to film andor take still photography in a state park with the intent to sell or otherwise use the products for an economic gain includes catalog or other advertising still photography. Battle in seattle script transcript from the screenplay. Martin henderson at an event for battle in seattle 2007 jennifer carpenter. Martins documentary combines archival film and photographs with modern day interviews to tell the david and goliath story of how an unlikely group of citizen activists stopped construction of the r. Reporter david postman, who covered the riots for the times, has seen the movie and talked to. Battle in seattle is a childish, ineffectively manipulative piece of selfserious agitprop about the fourday world trade organization meetings in 1999.
The result is not quite a documentary and not quite a drama, but interesting all the same. Battle in seattle is a 2007 political actionthriller film written and directed by stuart townsend, in his directorial debut. This film defines itself by providing human focus, navigating the sprawling confrontation through a handful of individual minidramas. In 1999, five days rocked the world as tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of seattle in protest of the world trade organization wto. Rudhalls battle of britain film the photo album spitfire vc ar501 donned earlywar camouflage again during the summer of 2000, when it was used in the filming of the michael baydisney movie pearl harbor. November 1999, and five days are about to rock the world as tens of thousands of demonstrators take to the streets of seattle in protest of the world trade organizations ministerial meeting. The battle of seattle was a series of protests which took place during the world trade organizations wto ministerial conference in 1999. This puppy is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay andor viewings of the movie to get the dialogue.
In late november 1999, masses are descending upon seattle for the world trade organization wto conference, the first ever held on american soil. There was also net roots and net wars, a study done by the rand. Seattle wto protests of 1999, in full seattle world trade organization protests of 1999, also called battle of seattle, a series of marches, direct actions, and protests carried out from november 28 through december 3, 1999, that disrupted the world trade organization wto ministerial conference in seattle, washington. This was my unofficial videoing of the battle of seattle. Everything you need to know about battle in seattle movie. Battle in seattle story, battle in seattle hollywood movie. Battle in seattle 2007 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Seattle has been a backdrop for some of hollywoods biggest movies and remains among one of the best cities to film in because of our diverse scenery, commitment to arts and culture and experienced local cast, crew and support services. Beyond the several delegates, career protesters are also coming to seattle, they who believe the nonelected organization only exists to support corporate interests at the expense of the poor, working class and the environment among other things. June 11 marks the 35th birthday of actor joshua jackson. The battle of britain the making of the movie spitfires. Comprising a broad and diffuse coalition of the american federation of. At the time, seattle was a settlement in the washington territory that had recently named itself after chief seattle sealth, a leader of the suquamish and duwamish peoples of central puget sound europeanamerican settlers were backed by artillery fire and supported by marines from the united. While jackson has had various tv and film roles in the decade since dawsons creek wrapped, he is perhaps bestknown for his part as pacey witter on the beloved television show.
So the logical video choice became the battle in seattle, for a little bonding with that citys past trauma. Although it began as a peaceful protest with a goal of stopping the wto talks, it escalated into a fullscale riot and eventually, a state of emergency that pitted protesters against the seattle police department and the national guard. Download file to see previous pages for example, the movie illustrates the world trade organization wto protest as acts of hooliganism where protesters looted and burned shops. Battle in seattle letterboxd social film discovery.