Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power

About Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power

"Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power" is a riveting documentary film released in 2020. Directed by Abby Ginzberg, the film features the life and political career of Barbara Lee, a notable Congresswoman from California. Known for her fearless advocacy for women's rights, economic justice, and international peace, Lee has been a vibrant voice in American politics. Through archival footage, the film details Lee's career evolution from a community worker in her constituency to a stalwart in the United States House of Representatives.

Making / Production

The film was a culmination of Ginzberg's passion for social justice combined with Lee's persuasive political activism. The director artfully represents Lee's political journey, capturing her profound influence on American politics. There was the utilization of extensive archival materials and interviews with notable personalities from politics and Lee's life, making the documentary engaging and informative.

Actors

• Barbara Lee: Playing herself in this biographical documentary, Lee delivers her true epic journey from her humble beginnings to her influential role in U.S. politics.
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Also playing herself, Ocasio-Cortez appears in the documentary to portray her respect and admiration for Lee.
• Coretta Scott King: Featured in archive footage, King adds invaluable depth to the portrayal of Lee's life and political career.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Barbara Lee was the only member of Congress to vote against the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) post the September 11 attacks.
• The film features several high-profile interviews, including Hillary Clinton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Van Jones.

Awards

As of the assistant's knowledge, the movie hadn't received notable awards.

Quotes

• "Stand up. You really can't sit on the sidelines if you want to see change" - Barbara Lee.
• "You have to be fearless, or else you're going to be pushed to the back" - Barbara Lee.

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's music and sound design contribute to the engaging storytelling, highlighting key moments of Lee's journey with effective soundtracks.
• Music direction for the documentary was done by Mor Mezrich and Vishal Nayak, creating a powerful backdrop to a politically-charged narrative.