- Turner Classic Movies’ sociopolitical series “Making Change: Political Films” continues on Oct. 25 with the presentation of four eclectic titles from Germany, France, and the United States: Olympia parts I and II; Citizen Kane; Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles; and All the President’s Men.
“Making Change: Political Films” on TCM: Titles include a classic Nazi era documentary and the fascist threat in the U.S.
Part VIII of Turner Classic Movies’ series “Making Change: Political Films” continues on Friday night, Oct. 25, with the presentation of four disparate classics from three different countries: Olympia from Germany; Citizen Kane and All the President’s Men from the United States; and Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles from France/Belgium. (See TCM’s “Making Change: Political Films” schedule further below. Most entries should remain available for a while on the Watch TCM app.)
Now, before we proceed …
Wherever you are on Planet Earth, have you checked out Project 2025, a blueprint for a fascist takeover of the U.S. government that was created by the advisors and most ardent supporters of the convicted criminal, adjudicated sexual assaulter, treasonous insurrectionist, and dementia-suffering Republican presidential nominee?
(Trump’s implosion is a sight to behold. Rambling incoherently, slurring his words, and unable to finish even the simplest of sentences, he is physically and mentally collapsing in front of his – fast-dwindling – traveling fascist circus attendees. And yet, to date there has been no public talk of an intervention coming from his family members. Besides, that hasn’t stopped Republican operatives and the Trump campaign from exploiting their cognitively impaired donors.)
Okay, on to TCM’s four “Making Change: Political Films” titles (listed in chronological order).
Olympia Part One: Festival of the Nations (1938) & Olympia Part Two: Festival of Beauty (1938)
Leni Riefenstahl’s two-part documentary Olympia – Olympia Part One: Festival of the Nations / Olympia 1. Teil – Fest der Völker and Olympia Part Two: Festival of Beauty / Olympia 2. Teil – Fest der Schönheit – is unquestionably one of the most influential nonfiction films ever made.
Just keep in mind that what was groundbreaking in 1936 – when the Olympic Games were held – has now become a sports competition/match-documenting cliché. Also, you cannot for a moment ignore the fact that Adolf Hitler’s Germany was actually given the opportunity to host the games.
Nothing that takes place in Riefenstahl’s seemingly endless Olympia is that mind-blowing.
But then again, perhaps one shouldn’t be at all surprised.
Citizen Kane (1941)
Orson Welles’ feature debut, Citizen Kane remains one of the most admired movies ever made. It’s also one worth rewatching every so often.
Welles delivers a sensational performance as the title character – a ruthless, unethical, power-hungry fascist based on newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst (the Rupert Murdoch of his day) – that earned him an Academy Award nomination.
On the downside, Citizen Kane’s supporting cast – Dorothy Comingore, Joseph Cotten, Agnes Moorehead – for the most part isn’t as effective. One notable exception: Future soap opera star Ruth Warrick as the first Mrs. Kane.
Welles co-wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay with Herman J. Mankiewicz, grandfather of TCM host Ben Mankiewicz.
Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)
Held in 1952, the first poll by the British Film Institute’s Sight and Sound magazine had Vittorio De Sica’s Bicycle Thieves (1948) at the top of the critics’ list of the Greatest Films of All Time.
Ten years later, Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane topped the second poll. Every ten years, Welles’ 1941 classic would continue to receive the most mentions until 2012, when a) hundreds more critics than in previous decades made their choices known b) Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo landed at no. 1.
In 2022, when hundreds more critics were polled, the no. 1 title turned out to be Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles.
A French-Belgian production that the vast majority of moviegoers the world over have never heard of, Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles chronicles three days in the life of a Brussels widow and mother (Delphine Seyrig of Alains Resnais’ Last Year in Marienbad and Luis Buñuel’s The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie) who cooks, cleans, runs household errands, cares for her son, and does some sex work so she can pay her bills.
Warning: At 202 minutes, Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles’ running time is even longer than its title. Besides, its static takes last about as long as a whole Warner Bros. feature of the early 1930s.
Does that mean you shouldn’t check it out?
No, that’s not the case at all. But you’ll likely be able to appreciate Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles far more if you watch it in installments. Think of it as a deliberately paced streaming series. That’s where the TCM app (or the Criterion Channel app) should come in handy.
All the President’s Men (1976)
Once upon a time, American journalists actually engaged in journalism. Well, at least some of them did.
Adapted by William Goldman from Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward’s 1974 nonfiction bestseller about their investigation into the Watergate scandal – a purportedly “minor” hotel room break-in that ultimately led to the resignation of U.S. President Richard Nixon – Alan J. Pakula’s All the President’s Men is considered by some one of the greatest political movies ever made.
But is it that good?
Well, let’s just say that Pakula’s thriller is undeniably an accomplished production featuring some quality acting and a pressing message about the fragility of democratic institutions – i.e., you’ll (continue to?) live in a (however flawed) democracy only if you do everything in your power to keep it.
Note: Bear in mind that after the violent Donald Trump-led attempted coup that took place on Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., the corrupt, authoritarian-prone goings-on depicted in All the President’s Men feel quaint indeed.
Immediately below is TCM’s “Making Change: Political Films” schedule.
‘Making Change: Political Films’: TCM schedule (EDT) – Oct. 25
8:00 PM All the President’s Men (1976)
Director: Alan J. Pakula.
Cast: Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Robards, Martin Balsam, Jack Warden, Hal Holbrook, Jane Alexander, Meredith Baxter, Stephen Collins, Ned Beatty.
138m10:30 PM Citizen Kane (1941)
Director: Orson Welles.
Cast: Orson Welles, Dorothy Comingore, Joseph Cotten, Agnes Moorehead, Ruth Warrick, Ray Collins, Erskine Sanford, Everett Sloane, Alan Ladd.
119m12:45 AM Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)
Director: Chantal Akerman.
Cast: Delphine Seyrig, Jan Decorte, Henri Storck, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze.
202m4:15 AM Olympia Part One: Festival of the Nations (1938)
Director: Leni Riefenstahl.
111m6:15 AM Olympia Part Two: Festival of Beauty (1938)
Director: Leni Riefenstahl.
90m
“Fascists, Nazis on TCM” notes
“Making Change: Political Films” schedule via the TCM website.
Delphine Seyrig Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles image: Olympic Films | The Criterion Collection.
“Fascists, Nazis & Sex-Working Widow on TCM” last modified in October 2024.