As with all things that involve celebrities, if they aren’t doing their usual thing --- such as acting or singing -- and don't do anything gossip worthy, the public tends to not care about what they say. However, Brad pitt's words won't go unnoticed. He has been thrown in behind a documentary that has been gaining rave reviews. The documentary is called The House I Live In and analyzes America's War on Drugs policy that had started in the 1970s. The Huffington Post has a quick interview with Brad Pitt and Eugene Jarecki (the director) on the matter.
According to the documentary, more than 45 million arrests have been made. The arrests being mainly from poor communities, thus targeting minorities. Nonetheless, Eugene Jarecki's film won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in January, and even gained praise from the Los Angeles Times. They comment it was “one of the most important pieces of nonfiction to hit the screen in years."
Pitt, an executive producer on the film, has been known to be for the legalization of drugs. In fact, when Jarecki introduced the project to him years before, he told Pitt that he felt the war on drugs "is possibly a barrier to keep the impoverished down. To keep them shackled," Pitt explains. "And I thought well that may be even too liberal for me [laughs], but we just came off of Hurricane Katrina. We had just witnessed that there was a particular portion of our society that was being ignored and that this could be the case." Pitt also stated that "I know people are suffering because of it. I know I’ve lived a very privileged life in comparison and I can’t stand for it. … It’s such bad strategy. It makes no sense. It perpetuates itself. You make a bust, you drive up profit, which makes more people want to get into it."
Thus, Brad Pitt seems to be dedicated to this cause. Documentaries seem to have an impact on both the public and celebrities such as the bullying documentary Bully. It's nice to see Pitt so vocal about this cause, and thus as a future filmmaker it persuades me to pick up projects that could not only be considered entertainment but could also benefit society. I wonder if Director Jarecki had thought about the success of the film beforehand, while creating this documentary did he know that it would actually bring him praise? Or did he do the documentary regardless...? Being pushed by a popular celebrity and a director wanting to voice out about the American war on drugs, it impacts me as a student because now I am allowed to be informed and actually see the effect drugs have in film. This public announcement seems to be educational. As a consumer, I actually become interested in these documentary type topics. Alas, will we be seeing more documentaries soon and will they be advertised so that as a consumer and student, I am aware of their presence and purpose? Hopefully, with Brad Pitt's celebrity status and the rave reviews and awards Jarecki's film is garnering, the public will be able to see the main point of the documentary
I had no idea there was anything like this out there or that Brad Pitt was involved. This is a really good point about drugs. Blacklisting something makes more people want to get it (ie Prohibition). Although I am completely against drugs, this did open my eyes to a new perspective I had never thought of before.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was very neat because it's nice to know that celebrities are dedicating themselves to such important causes. I also agree with you when you stated that this inspires you to create documentaries that will educate people about these issues because in the end, it does benefit society, just like you said.
ReplyDeleteI've heard many people that Brad Pitt, quite honestly, is a jerk. However, seeing this article, maybe there is a side to Pitt that people just don't pay attention. I think it's great that Pitt is dedicated to a cause that has to do with something that is actually an issue in the world.
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