Blair post’s about creating timelines got me all excited to make my own - so I did!

Instead of focusing directly on a social issue, I focused on a sequence in a film I love - Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s Lola. The film is a satirical critique of greed, development and capitalism, which relates to quite a few social issues of the day.

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Social Action + Cinema Videos of the Day:

1) Human Rights Watch : Cluster Munitions - A Weapon Out of Control

For the Cinema YouTube Video of the Day, Click here >>>

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Another Mother’s Day has passed (I hope you had a good one) but luckily for you the Top 10 Movie Moms are available all year round - here’s the final Top 10 - including 2 new ones not yet profiled! Keep in mind these Moms may not be the most typical (they’re all actually pretty unique) , but they are definitely the most dynamic and interesting to watch on the screen.

10. Carol White in Todd Haynes’ Safe

A disturbing and eeery portrait of a California housewife and step-mom that suddenly turns sick from the chemicals in the air is in part an attack of suburban culture and in part a more general metaphor for the AIDS epidemic. But these social critiques aside, Julianne Moore’s turn as Carol White is a fascinating look at a woman who wants more that to run a house. The scene of Carol at a pals baby shower, when a young child is sitting on her lap as she starts to experience an attack will sit with you for some time… As will the last moment of the film. It’s a true testament to the side our mother’s keep to themselves…

And even though Carol may have had other problems, to ensure we all have clean air to breathe!

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The fourth look at one of my favorite movie moms. (1, 2 and 3 are here)

Mother Kusters in Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s Mother Kusters Goes to Heaven

Fassbinder’s film about a German women whose husband kills his boss at the factory where he works before killing himself is filled with ideas of motherhood. After the death of her husband, Frau Kusters has to contend not only with the media but also with how her children respond to the media (not so well it turns out, 1 of her adult children leaves, while the other uses the situation to become famous). Not to mention that her search for meaning related to her husband’s death leads her straight to the Communist Party. Also, nobody beats Brigitte Mira!

to learn about widownet, a site that helps widows and widowers deal with their grief, and click click click for an interesting video tribute to Mother Kusters

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The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. We brought you some excellent top 10 lists this week on art, technology, director Errol Morris, and naughty celebs who should rethink their eco-lifestyles. Don’t forget to catch up with some of our other most popular articles of the week, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites.

Katie:

Bush’s War: PBS Frontline Brings the War to a Computer Near You

Inverted Areola, Asymmetrical Breasts, & the Miss Bimbo Game

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Nicole:

Where the Wild Things Are: Top 10 Art Blogs

Dark Water: Artist Explores Consequences of Three Gorges Dam Project

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Giulia:

A Pregnant Man?

Is the Lebron / Gisele Vogue Cover Racist?

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Gina:

Top 10 Technology Blogs

Errol Morris’ Top 10 Films

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Kerry:

Top 10 Celebrities Who Need a New Cause

Dead Bats Flying: Mysterious Fatal Illness Alarms Scientists

Back in 2002, film magazine Sight and Sound had an impressive list of directors name their top 10 films of all time. One of those directors was Errol Morris, the man behind the upcoming Standard Operating Procedure. His list was one of the more unique and I am happy to say features my all time favorite film (number 10 for him) and a film by one of my most favorite directors (his number 2). I’ve always been of the mindset that the best way to learn about cinema is to find out what films the folks you admire like.

So if you’re looking for a good film to watch, check out his list below and if you’re feeling in an especially cinematic mood and see what the other directors thought. Also below Errol’s list is my own (although it’s always changing!) - make yours and leave it in the comments section. If I get enough comments I’ll post other’s choices next week:

ERROL’s TOP 10 (From 2002)

1. Detour (Ulmer)
2. There’s Always Tomorrow (Sirk)
3. Make Way for Tomorrow (McCarey)

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It’s Valentine’s Day.. And while I don’t really buy into America’s celebration of everyone spending money to prove that we love each other - I suppose that it isn’t such a bad idea to reflect on the people we care about. So I’m going to do just that and reflect a little on German filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder.

He may not have been known as the most likable fellow, but his films make up for any nasty personality traits that he might have had. In a 13 year period (he died at age 37) he directed over 40 productions, mostly feature films, but also some TV specials and a 14 part miniseries called Berlin Alexanderplatz.

The reason I love Fassbinder, is that his films, especially his later works, were often amazing combinations of quality storytelling with social critique. He would create films about people, making the stories strong enough to stand on their own, but going a step further and adding a layer of subversion, often discussing his homeland and what frustrated and disappointed him about his government and his people. He did so in an effortless sort of way, weaving political and social ideas with emotion and character to create one cohesive vision.

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