In Whose Interest? 2002
Distributed by Bullfrog Films, PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547; 800-543-FROG (3764)
Produced by David Kaplowitz
Directed by David Kaplowitz
VHS, color, 27 min.
College
American Studies, History, International Relations
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Betsy Butler, Special Collections Librarian, The Ohio Historical Society, Columbus, OHWhy is it that we don’t know about foreign interventions our tax dollars are supporting?
That’s the central question filmmaker David Kaplowitz asks in this look at post-World War II U.S. foreign policy.
Blending archival footage with present-day reflections by Vietnam veterans, representatives of advocacy groups, and respected academics like Noam Chomsky of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, this film prompts viewers to consider whether our government and media tell us what we need to know about U.S. foreign policy. Focusing on our country’s intervention in Guatemala, Vietnam, East Timor, El Salvador, and Palestine/Israel, the film seeks to demonstrate that U.S. actions may not necessarily reflect citizens’ interests. The film concludes by suggesting that foreign policy should reflect human dignity. As one interviewee stated, “Our hope lies in the people, not smart foreign policy.”
While the informative film encourages viewers to be critical of information presented by the government and the media, it takes a limiting, narrow look at these five examples of foreign intervention. To make this important topic more understandable for the audience, a study guide or recommended reading list would be a valuable addition to this program.
Given the $195 purchase price for this video running under 30 minutes, collection development budgets might be better served by investing money in resources that provide lengthier, more comprehensive, and more balanced coverage of the strengths and weaknesses of modern American foreign policy.