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williamscole-1
Reviews
Arranged (2007)
Excellent depiction of a friendship we all wish for
Arranged is a beautifully shot and written film that will pull you right into a story that we all hope happens. An Orthodox Jewish woman and a Muslim woman are both teachers who meet and become friends, learning about each other without the fraught biases that so often stop such a natural connection. In this case it's also a sensitive look at marriages often condemned as arranged and overly religious but quite often happening in a positive and consensual way. The film is quite an accomplishment. I saw it at SXSW and the audience was enthralled, teary and ultimately happy - a testament to the power of this film to help cross bridges and wipe away stereotypes.
Contested Streets (2006)
An important argument and history about cars and cities
Cities are meant for people, not cars, and this film powerfully shows how cities can be designed and changed so they don't have to be clogged with cars and pollution but can facilitate walking and public transportation. By first telling the history of New York City Contested Streets outlines the history of how Robert Moses (who is currently undergoing a positive revisionist history) actually cut up NYC for cars even though he didn't even drive. It then goes on to look at London, Paris and Copenhagen to show how some once clogged cities are taking back streets for bikes, pedestrians and public transportation. Oh how it would great if politicians in New York City saw this and made some changes!