American Radical - The Trials of Norman Finkelstein

"American Radical is a powerful film -- brave, bold, incendiary. I highly recommend it!" - Michael Moore

A devoted son of Holocaust survivors and ardent critic of Israeli foreign policy, the polarizing American political scientist and author Norman Finkelstein has been called a lunatic and self-hating Jew by some, and an inspirational revolutionary by others. Exploring the deeply complex issues at the heart of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, American Radical is the insightful and enraging documentary that follows Finkelstein around the world as he attempts to negotiate a voice among his impassioned critics and supporters. Uncompromising even in the face of his recent denial of tenure at DePaul University, Finkelstein is revealed as a complex and supremely lonely figure whose self-destructive nature often undermines his academic credibility. A guaranteed argument starter, this potent documentary plunges viewers into the psychological and intellectual underpinnings of a vitriolic personality.

"For us, Finkelstein is the consummate documentary subject: a complex firebrand, principled to the point of self-ruin, at the apex of several of the world's largest conflicts. A man who has never been asked to appear on mainstream American television, but who regularly appears -- always creating controversy -- in the international media. At once anti-hero, clown, and merciless scholar, Finkelstein creates as many storms as he enters. And to what end? When radicals collide, does it create understanding? Some would argue that it sometimes does. Others would claim that Finkelstein's principled but too often bitter advocacy does much to discredit the cause of a just resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Audiences can decide for themselves." —directors David Ridgen & Nicolas Rossier

Reviews:
"American Radical is a nuanced and powerful portrait of the scholar Norman Finkelstien, one of the nation's most courageous and embattled intellectuals. It is a reminder that mendacity and timidity, when in the service of conventional beliefs, are more highly prized in most universities that truth. It illustrates that those who unmask the lies of the intellectual elite swiftly become their victims. The power and subtext of this film, however, is not in the wars fought between Finkelstien and those like Alan Dershowitz who seek to destroy him, but in Finkelstein's powerful fealty to his mother's suffering in the Warsaw Ghetto and later the Nazi death camps. Finkelstein sees in all who are oppressed his mother's degradation and pain. This is a movie that is, at its core, about the unshakable bond of love between a parent and a true and faithful son who refuses to forget or compromise."
—Chris Hedges, author of War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning

"'American Radical: The Trials of Norman Finkelstein' is a cautiously respectful documentary portrait of a political firebrand who presents himself as a beacon of moral truth in the murk of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."
—Stephen Holden, New York Times

"Surprisingly entertaining...a compelling portrait of a difficult man."
—Mark Cohen, The Jewish Daily Forward

"A fascinating, well-rounded portrait of Finkelstein that simultaneously informs, inspires and infuriates...the filmmakers ride a delicate line, assembling a warts-and-all portrait that shows why Finkelstein is deeply respected and equally reviled."
—Mark Achbar, director of 'The Corporation' and 'Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media'

"With impressive restraint, the fascinatingly thorny 'American Radical' is less interested in the validity of Finkelstein's ideas—seriously mounted, if inflammatory—and more in the topsy-turvy life of today's professional academic. Amazingly, that choice doesn't result in a boring movie."
—Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York

"A guaranteed argument starter...an engaging portrait of an academic whose work is both fueled and undermined by his vitriolic personality."
—J.R. Jones, Chicago Reader

"'American Radical'...presents a more balanced portrait of Finkelstein, who, when his passion doesn't carry him off on a wave of anger, is shown to be thoughtful, intelligent and deeply melancholy."
—George Robinson, The Jewish Week

"A blood-boiling, very good documentary."
—Mark Keizer, Boxoffice Magazine

Like the film? Pick it up at Amazon or Typecast Releasing!
http://www.amazon.com/American-Radical-Trials-Norman-Finkelstein/dp/B0038GQRL...
http://typecastfilms.com/shop/american-radical-the-trials-of-norman-finkelstein/

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Norman Finkelstein
• American Radical
• Israel
• Palestine
• Finkelstein
• Dershowitz
• Democracy Now

[abortfailure7646]

dershowitz is a scumbag of epic proportions. Is hilarious that of all the finkelstein critics, not one can point to a fact that is incorrect on his analysis of the palestinian issue. They all just claim he is a jew hater and let that stand as an argument. Hang in there Norm, time will show who is right. Its tough to be ahead of your time. Then "regular" public will get it someday and realize the jackasses like dershowitz had an agenda all along.

[abortfailure7646]

dershowitz is a scumbag of epic proportions. Is hilarious that of all the finkelstein critics, not one can point to a fact that is incorrect on his analysis of the palestinian issue. They all just claim he is a jew hater and let that stand as an argument. Hang in there Norm, time will show who is right. Its tough to be ahead of your time. Then "regular" public will get it someday and realize the jackasses like dershowitz head an agenda all along.

[kindiboy]

@BazuBee You are correct in saying "what is considered the 'World Norms'" IF the world was made out of Israel and the United States, for more than half of the world Norman didn't bring anything new.

[cmajor84kitty]

THIS VIDEO WILL NOT PLAY!!!!!!!!!! IT HAD BEEN "loading" FOR 4 hrs. HELP

[BazuBee]

This is the path of prophets. You go against what is considered the "World Norms" and you will be outcast and at best an idiot. Dr Dershowitz did presented a simple and yet a profound diagnosis to Dr Finkelstein ordeal. He mentioned in his debate against Finkelstein the term "Ad hominem". I think this is a very important concept. If people stopped being so "Ad hominem" against Dr. Finkelstein then the whole problem can be eradicated.