Anarchist Film Screening

dublin | anti-capitalism | event notice Monday April 30, 2007 14:32 by w. - wsm

Ethel McDonald

Saturday 5th May 2007 - 4pm @ Seomra Spraoi
( www.myspace.com/seomraspraoi )

Showing:
Ethel Macdonald: An Anarchist's Story
http://www.spanishcivilwarfilm.com/

This drama-documentary tells the story of Ethel MacDonald. A forgotten legend, her story ranks alongside the courage of 'La Pasionaria' and the legendary 'Odette'. Whilst both these women sustained world-wide recognition, our Scots heroine dwindled into obscurity and remains forgotten to this day.

Ethel MacDonald's own intimate recollections are presented through a definitive mix of documentary and drama, re-visiting the Killing Fields that were the Spanish Civil War. Supporting commentary spoken by David Hayman paired with expert interviews, including Noam Chomsky, provides background knowledge of 1930's European Politics and a further insight into the young Scot's motives, actions and social situation.

The film links her own personal drama to specific archive footage of Barcelona in disarray - an image Ethel MacDonald came to know so well.
During ten months in 1936 and 1937 some 3 million men, women and children were involved in one of the most radical revolutions in world history.

In the countryside surrounding Barcelona peasants formed communes on land confiscated from old ruling elite. Workers took over the factories. Police were replaced with civilian self-defence forces.

In Catalonia three-quarters of the economy was under anarchists control. Hotels, shops, barber shops and restaurants were collectivised and managed by their workers, often making them more efficient. In some communes money was entirely eliminated and replaced with vouchers and bartering schemes.

It was this setting that saw Ethel MacDonald play her part in the greatest ideological struggle of modern times.