Mon. March 9

Here's a Marlon Brando movie you might now have seen - we certainly haven't - but it's one historian/activist/B.U. professor emeritus Howard Zinn calls one of his favorites and so we're paying attention. Zinn in fact will be on hand at the Coolidge Corner Theatre Monday March 9 at 7 p.m. to introduce the 1969 film "Burn," directed by Gillo Pontecorvo. Zinn told us: "I used to show this film to my classes at B.U. to open their eyes to the reality of colonialism and neo-colonialism,  which this film by the great Pontecorvo reveals in the most dramatic way. I had trouble getting the film  at the time because United Artists had withdrawn it. They were not happy with such a revolutionary film.  It is probably the least-publicized of all Brando films, yet it is one of his greatest performances, as he himself said.  I will be happy and proud to introduce it at the Coolidge Corner Theater, which, unlike United Artists, is not timid about presenting Imperialism in its raw form."
What's it about? A British agent, Sir William Walker (Brando), is an sent to the island of Queimada (a fictional Portuguese colony in the Caribbean) in order to organize an uprising of black slaves to overthrow the Portuguese regime. Great Britain wants to get economic control of the island because it is an important sugar cane producer.
JSInk note: Certainly, this far-fetched plot bears no resemblence to anything that could happen today! Thank god we live in more civilized times! At any rate, the plan is to replace the Portuguese administration by a formally sovereign state controlled by whites loyal to Great Britain. In order gain control of the colony for Britain, Walker convinces the black slaves to fight for their liberation from slavery and for freedom. ... There's an assassintation, a governmental overthrow, a corrupt puppet government and the freedom of the slaves. Except, well, while they had freedom in theory, a legal and property system was established where they continued to do what they always did, except even under worse conditions. (Another JSInk note: Thank god, again, nothing like this could happen today!) Still, the slaves gain power and Walker - after many years gone - comes back to Queimada to destroy what he once helped create. We'll leave the situation there for you ... File this under the category of "Power, Corruption & Lies," one of our favorite New Order album titles, and check out a 40-year-old film that make resonate today.

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