The Locarno film festival is hosting a retrospective titled “Red & Black” curated by Ehsan Khoshbakht, examining the historical parallels between the Hollywood blacklist and contemporary political climates. The selection includes films by Charlie Chaplin, Dorothy Parker, and Paul Thomas Anderson, alongside noir features and ‘High Noon,’ to explore themes of censorship and political persecution.
Khoshbakht explains that the retrospective is “timely” for the age of Trump & Co., suggesting a connection between past instances of Hollywood’s political repression and current events. The curator highlights how the films chosen reflect anxieties about ideological conformity and the consequences faced by those who dissent. He notes that even *The Hollywood Reporter* has a role in understanding this history, implying scrutiny of its own past coverage.
The “Red & Black” retrospective aims to draw attention to the historical context of political blacklisting in Hollywood and its relevance to present-day concerns about freedom of expression and potential censorship. The selection process involved identifying works that either directly addressed or subtly reflected the anxieties surrounding communism and anti-communist sentiment during the mid-20th century.
We don't rate truth. We strip the spin and show you which perspectives covered the story. You decide.
Read the original coverage
💬 Comments
📜 Comment Policy