American Radical is the probing documentary portrait of American academic and activist Norman Finkelstein. A devoted son of holocaust survivors, ardent critic of Israeli and US Mid-East policies and author of six provocative books—including The Holocaust Industry, Beyond Chutzpah and the soon-to-be-released A Farewell to Israel: The Coming Break-Up of American Zionism, Finkelstein has been at the center of many intractable controversies.

Called a lunatic and a self-hating Jew by some and an inspirational, street-fighting revolutionary by others, Finkelstein is a deeply polarizing figure whose struggles arise from core questions about freedom, identity and nationhood. Following him as he presents his message to audiences around the globe, the film provides an intimate portrait of the man behind the controversy, giving voice to Finkelstein’s critics as well as his supporters.

American Radical is produced and directed by accomplished documentary filmmakers David Ridgen (Mississippi Cold Case) and Nicolas Rossier (Aristide and the Endless Revolution). When Noam Chomsky first suggested to David Ridgen that he work with Finkelstein on a film project, Ridgen quickly became attracted to the idea. Having always been interested in individuals who take bold action, he knew that Finkelstein would make an ideal documentary subject, and he began working on American Radical in 1997.

Director Nicolas Rossier, who had begun putting together his own film about Finkelstein in 2001, joined forces with Ridgen in 2007 and the two have collaborated on American Radical ever since. Says Rossier, “Some have accused Finkelstein of being a Holocaust denier in order to delegitimize his arguments. We would not have made a film on Finkelstein if we had any doubts on this matter. Norman Finkelstein is wired entirely through the prism of the Holocaust. His apartment is plastered with photos of relatives who were killed in the Nazi death camps.”

Completed in 2009, American Radical was picked up for US distribution by Typecast Releasing in September.

2009 | 88 minutes | BetaSP | DigiBeta | DVD | Dolby SR | DTS

 

American Radical Festival Screening Dates:

*September 2009 . Chicago Underground Film Festival . Chicago, IL. USA
*September 2009 . DocuDays: Beirut International Film Festival . Beirut . LEBANON
*October 2009 . North of Nowhere Expo . Edmonton, AB . CANADA
*October 2009 . Boston Palestine Film Festival . Boston, MA. USA
*October 2009 . Carleton Cinema Politica . Ottawa, ON . CANADA
*November 2009 . Sheffield International Documentary Festival . Sheffield . ENGLAND
*November 2009 . Copenhagen International Documentary Festival . Copenhagen . DENMARK
*November 2009 . International Documentary Festival of Amsterdam . Amsterdam . THE NETHERLANDS
*November 2009 . Rencontres Internationales du Documentaire de Montreal . Montreal, QC . CANADA
*December 2009 . Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival . Jerusalem . ISRAEL
*January 2010 . Argus Film Festival . Denver, CO . USA
*January 2010 . Atlanta Jewish Film Festival . Atlanta, GA . USA
*March 2010 . KinoTeatr.doc Film Festival . Moscow . RUSSIA
*March 2010 . New Orleans International Human Rights Film Festival . New Orleans, LA . USA
*April 2010 . Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine . Buenos Aires . ARGENTINA
*April 2010 . Chicago Palestine Film Festival . Chicago, IL . USA
*May 2010 . Hot Docs Film Festival . Toronto, ON . CANADA
*May 2010 . Planete Doc Review Film Festival . Warsaw . POLAND

>> Visit the American Radical website

>> Watch the theatrical trailer

Reviews:

“American Radical is a film that demands discussion upon its conclusion, because no matter what conclusions you draw after watching Norman Finkelstein in action, there are enough layers to the man to spend hours peeling them away to even get a hint as to what he’s all about. Agree or disagree, you will be glued to your seat to see what he has to say next.”     —Steve Prokopy, for Gaper’s Block

“This documentary by David Ridgen and Nicolas Rossier doesn’t venture far into the substance of Finkelstein’s controversial books (The Holocaust Industry, Beyond Chutzpah), but it does present an engaging portrait of an academic whose work is both fueled and undermined by his vitriolic personality… A guaranteed argument starter, the documentary plunges viewers into an academic terrain that’s thoroughly, and perhaps hopelessly, colored by politics.” —J.R. Jones for the Chicago Reader

“A fascinating, well-rounded portrait of Finkelstein that simultaneously informs, inspires and infuriates…the filmmakers ride a delicate line, assembling a warts-and-all portrait that shows why Finkelstein is deeply respected and equally reviled.”     —Mark Achbar, Director of The Corporation and Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media

“It takes balls to make a documentary feature about Norman Finkelstein while walking a tightrope…very easy to fall for either censure or praise or both. American Radical is the perfect film guaranteed to piss off Finkelstein’s detractors and followers. In fact, I’d bet this fascinating, entertaining film about an infuriating, provocative man would drive Finkelstein himself to distraction because the filmmakers insist on balance throughout—not exactly the natural state of their controversial subject. This deeply researched, probing film transcends politics and sociology; it’s a profoundly humanistic document about the roots and consequences of speaking your mind.”     —Saul Rubinek, Actor/Director

“The film is interesting and well done. It shows how Finkelstein may have become an industry himself. The film raises important questions about Norman’s work and controversial path. It should be seen as the beginning of an exploration of some of the deeper issues facing Jews and Judaism in the 21^st century.”   —Marc Ellis, Director of The Center for Jewish Studies at Baylor University and author of “Toward a Jewish Theology of Liberation”

“This is a fabulous, outstanding portrait of an important American academic, activist, public intellectual and, indeed, an American radical. The film provides an articulate and measured lens on Finkelstein and steers away from hagiography while problematizing the path that Finkelstein has chosen—illuminating the self-destructive nature and ostracizing effects of the academic’s approach and actions toward the Israel/Palestine problem… The film remains fixated on Finkelstein as a public intellectual and activist without getting bogged down with the politics of the Middle East. This is a difficult feat considering the subject, and perhaps one that the filmmakers will be reprimanded for by activists. However, I feel it is a sober approach to the topic that offers tremendous insight into one dynamic agent in the political struggle.”     —Ezra Winton, Curator and Co-founder of Cinema Politica