About Shouting Fire: Stories From The Edge of Free Speech (HBO)

"Shouting Fire: Stories From The Edge of Free Speech" is an engaging documentary released in 2009 by HBO. Directed by Liz Garbus, the film explores the current state of freedom of speech in America. The movie takes you across various public debates, from the "free speech zone" fights, controversial cartoons, to the contentious issue of hate speech. The documentary presents audience with an opportunity to examine the critical boundaries of First Amendment rights and delve deeper into the very concept of free speech in the United States.

Making / Production

Liz Garbus is the noteworthy director behind this thought-provoking documentary. She made this film with the aim of helping viewers gain a comprehensive understanding of the critical importance of free speech in a democratic society. The film provides a balanced take on controversial issues through the lens of personal stories.

Actors

• Martin Garbus - He is the director's father and a well-known First Amendment attorney. Being a central figure in the documentary, he recounts numerous compelling cases from his career and provides valuable insights into free speech battles.
• Debbie Almontaser - As the former principal of an Arabic language public school, Almontaser shares her story of being ousted due to her controversial comments in a New York Post interview.
• Ward Churchill - A former University of Colorado Professor, Ward Churchill, discusses his inflammatory 9/11 essay that led to his highly passionate free speech battle with university officials.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• "Shouting Fire: Stories From The Edge of Free Speech" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2009.
• The title of the film is a reference to the famous free speech legal case, where Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. wrote about falsely "shouting fire in a crowded theatre."

Quotes

• "The first function of freedom of speech is that it is the only way to find out the truth."
• "Free speech is the bedrock of democracy."
• "There's no such thing as unlimited free speech."

Music, Soundtrack

• The intense and gripping background score of "Shouting Fire: Stories From The Edge of Free Speech" was composed by Peter Nashel.
• The soundtrack aptly complements the documentary's theme, enhancing the emotional journey presented in the film.

Regrettably, no significant awards were won by "Shouting Fire: Stories From The Edge of Free Speech."