Laborfest: 2 Films :Reserve Slaves; Turkey on the Edge

FilmWorks United International Working Class Film & Video Festival

Reserve Slaves (Schiavi di Riserva) 2018 (30 min.) Italy
Directed by Michelangelo Severgnini

The result of the U.S./European attack on Libya has been the restoration of slavery. Europe and the U.S. caused it, allows it, and benefits from it, according to Severgini’s film, Reserve Slaves. In case of need, the “E.U. has its own reserve slaves just overseas,” a message delivered to us by 3 African men who just landed in Sicily, after having crossed the desert and the sea, and especially after having served as slaves in Libya. This film shows the real stories behind the rise of slavery and the result of the U.S. and European war machine. There will also be a short statement from the director.
See also:
http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Michelangelo+Severgnini
http://www.laborfest.net/wp/event/reserve-slaves-schiavi-di-riserva-2018-30-min-italy-turkey-on-the-edge-2018-53-min-turkey/

Film: Turkey on the Edge
Directed by Imre Azem, 2018 (53 min.) Turkey.

Four following years the Gezi Resistance, great political and social changes were instituted in Turkey. Director İmre Azem follows four people striving for democracy, from Gezi to a July 15th attempted coup, a subsequent state of emergency, and finally an April 16th, 2017 referendum. The rise of Turkey’s dictator Recep Erdogan and his attack on academics and the people of Turkey is the focus of this documentary. The documentary shows the rise and struggle of the Gezi Resistance, which was a fight against privatization of a park in Istanbul. Erdogan wanted to pave it over with a private development for his cronies. The use of fundamentalism and racism against Kurds and other minorities has a long history in Turkey. Azem links the struggle in Gezi to the July 15th coup attempt and a state of emergency to crush any political opposition while expanding the war in Syria. He also shows the April 16, 2017 referendum by focusing on the people who are fighting for democracy and equality for all. Following the films there will be a discussion hosted by the Solidarity Committee with the People of Turkey.
See also:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4359456/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 (Imre Azem)
https://www.amnestyusa.org/files/eur440222013en.pdf
http://www.laborfest.net/wp/event/film-turkey-on-the-edge/