Reaction: BATTLE IN SEATTLE

Starting my Film Festival with PERSEPOLIS, THE ORPHANAGE, and CONTROL was something similar to seeing a baseball game where the three lead off batters hit home runs. It was with great expectations then, that I walked into my first show at The Ryerson – Stuart Townsend’s BATTLE IN SEATTLE (* * *). The film is a fictionalized account of the riots that surrounded the WTO Conference in Seattle in late 1999.

The movie itself is good, and while it sits squarely on the side of the protesters, it doesn’t try to create a black and white situation. These very disruptive protests leave a few unforeseen consequences in its wake. Like the diplomat who is desperately trying to emphasize better medical programs for third world nations, but finds his audience is far too distracted by the protests outside. Likewise, there is the Seattle police officer, who is suddenly unsure about his role when the riots cause his own department to hand his family a heart wrenching situation. Finally there are the protesters themselves, who have to start qualifying themselves amongst themselves, when other protesters decide that “non-violent” protests just will not garner enough attention.

The film started a tad slow, but picked up as it went along. It has a great ensemble cast, and features some great performances by Woody Harrelson (as the cop who questions his role) and Andre Benjamin as a protester who spouts philosophy and serves as a calming influence.

The crowd at The Ryerson had gotten itself pretty worked up by the end of the film – but that sort of reaction seems to go hand-in-hand with this sort of movie these days. I couldn’t stay for the Q&A which is a shame, but I’m certain that political opinions would have been the overwhelming theme.

On the whole, BATTLE IN SEATTLE didn’t make for a fourth home run. Let’s call this one a double off the wall. There is a second screening on Monday afternoon at The Scotiabank Theatre, check it out if you have the chance.