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Independent Lens

Indie Films Series / 8 Seasons

Authentic stories. Extraordinary people.

Watch Latest: S26 E15

1h 22m / TV-14

Gloria Steinem on Wonder Woman

45s

Iconic activist, Gloria Steinem, is featured in the upcoming Independent Lens film, Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines, which traces the evolution and legacy of Wonder Woman. In this short interview Gloria Steinem reminisces on her own childhood and remembers her favorite Superheroine, Wonder Women.

Coming Soon to Independent Lens: Wonder Women!

30s / TV-PG

Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines traces the fascinating evolution and legacy of Wonder Woman. From the birth of the comic book superheroine in the 1940s to the blockbusters of today, popular representations of powerful women often reflect society’s anxieties about women’s liberation.

The House I Live In: Theme Song Sung by John Legend

3m 19s / TV-PG

In this music video for the Independent Lens documentary, The House I Live In, a montage of scenes of prison life and facts about the impact of the War on Drugs are set against a song by John Legend.

The House I Live In: Does the War on Drugs Target Minorities

1m 8s / TV-PG

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary, The House I Live In, filmmaker Eugene Jarecki observes that while documenting the steps that so many Americans take through the world of the Drug War, he couldn't help but notice that at every stage, Black Americans were disproportionately represented.

The House I Live In: Framing Drugs in Moral Terms May Miss t

2m 8s / TV-PG

In this video extra for the Independent Lens documentary, The House I Live In, David Simon, the creator of The Wire, and journalist Charles Bowden describe how the War on Drugs frames drug abuse mainly in moral terms, while ignoring the issue of economic inequality which may actually be the root of the problem.

The House I Live In Takes a Hard Look at The War on Drugs

2m 17s / TV-PG

From director Eugene Jarecki (Why We Fight) comes an unflinching look at how the War on Drugs has disproportionately disenfranchised, incarcerated, and impoverished African Americans.

The House I Live In: The Wire's David Simon on the Downside

3m 22s / TV-PG

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary, The House I Live In, David Simon, the creator of The Wire, describes how the strategies behind the War on Drugs have actually destroyed law enforcement's power of deterrance and increased cynicism among enforcement agents and citizens alike.

The House I Live In: A Law and Order Man Shares His Doubts a

1m 30s / TV-PG

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary, The House I Live In, prison guard Mike Carpenter speaks candidly about how the severity of America's drug laws may actually be making it harder for law enforcement to tackle the problem effectively.

The House I Live In: Do Limited Options Make Drugs Seem Like

1m 29s / TV-PG

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary, The House I Live In, David Simon, the creator of The Wire, and other experts on the War on Drugs describe how drugs may offer the only opportunities for those living in communities with extremely limited economic opportunities.

Waiting for the Revolution: Fight for WorkersĺäĄ_ Rights

6m 46s

This educational module from the film Waiting for the Revolution, part of the Women's Empowerment Curriculum, investigates the dilemma of whether community organizers should work within the system or outside of the system to bring about social change.

Shadya: An Israeli ArabĺäĄ_s Experience

7m 23s

This educational module from the Women's Empowerment Curriculum investigates Arab citizens of Israel as a group, and how the film Shadya draws attention to a population rarely exposed in the media.

Shayfeen.com: Digital Activism

7m 21s

This educational module from the Women's Empowerment Curriculum analyzes how digital media tools work in less developed nations or areas where media access is limited. Evaluate the savvy, resources, skills and support needed to develop effective media outreach.

Shadya: Muslim Feminism

9m 3s

This educational module from the Women's Empowerment Curriculum explores the ways in which Muslim girls and women have made strides in asserting their rights. Muslim women face many of the same struggles and challenges as women all over the world. In addition, there are specific issues these women face as Muslims within their families, communities and religion.

Waiting for the Revolution: BoliviaĺäĄ_s Indigenous Worker

9m 4s

This educational module from the film Waiting for the Revolution, part of the Women's Empowerment Curriculum, investigates the concepts of unemployment, unions and worker’s rights as universal human rights.

Kenya & Wangari Maathai: Taking Root

7m 47s

This educational module from the Women's Empowerment Curriculum examines how Kenya’s history as a colonized nation has contributed to their challenges with deforestation. Identify how this environmental degradation is related to other social, political and economic problems that affect the country’s marginalized citizens.

Taking Root: The Greenbelt Movement

7m 44s

This educational module from the Women's Empowerment Curriculum examines the community organizing/civic action steps that the Green Belt Movement took to address Kenya’s deforestation and investigates the strategies that other “change makers” and organizations use to address specific issues.

Never Sorry: Ai Weiwei Weaves Red Tape into Art

2m 1s / TV-PG

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens film, Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry, we see Ai and his lawyers encountering resistance from authorities as he attempts to file a lawsuit for his earlier treatment by police. While he succeeds in filing the complaint, it's clear that seeking justice in China can be a Kafkaesque ordeal.

Artist and Activist Ai Weiwei's Muse is His Conscience

2m 24s / TV-PG

Ai Weiwei is arguably the most internationally celebrated Chinese artist of the modern era. But at heart, he is a troublemaker who challenges the government with rebellious and irreverent gestures. This has often cost him his freedom, but he never seems to lose his childlike approach to serious dissidence.

Sen. Tim Kaine Introduces the Created Equal Project

2m 24s

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduces the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Created Equal Project. The initiative showcases powerful NEH-funded films, including The Abolitionists, Freedom Riders, and The Loving Story — films that provide a deeper understanding of African American history and the American story.

Spotlight on Civil Rights Leader Whitney Young, Jr.

1m 51s / TV-PG

Whitney M. Young, Jr. was one of the most celebrated - and controversial - leaders of the civil rights era. Unique among black leaders, he took the fight directly to the powerful white elite, gaining allies in business and government, including three presidents.

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