Figure 1. Eugene V. Debs in American Socialist (First Run Features, 2017). Los Angeles Times
A timely documentary in the wake of the 2016 presidential election, American Socialist: The Life and Times of Eugene Victor Debs (2017) brings to light the inspiration for Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign. As the name of the film suggests, American Socialist, directed by Yale Strom and narrated by Amy Madigan, details the life and work of Eugene Victor Debs (Figure 1), American socialist and presidential candidate. The film follows the life of Debs from boyhood to his death in 1926. A revolutionary and forward-thinking individual, Debs advocated for the working class throughout his life, starting out as a railroad union leader and eventually becoming an outstanding figure for the American socialist movement. As a presidential candidate, he was imprisoned for his campaign platform, but was still able to win almost a million votes. Strom tells the story of Debs using archival photographs and footage, drawings, and political cartoons. His portrayal of Debs, while not necessarily entertaining, is accurate and enlightening. While providing factual bibliographic information on the founder of the American Socialist Party, Strom emphasizes Debs’s genuine concern for and solidarity with the working class.
Although American Socialist contains interesting and relevant information, the film as a whole is not very engaging. The overall aesthetic is that of a slideshow of archival images slowly zooming in and out, occasionally interrupted by various talking heads. In other words, its style is very traditional for a documentary rather than innovative, much like the work of Ken Burns. Additionally, at 1 hour and 37 minutes, the film seems to run long, especially for broad audiences who may not have a specific interest in the rise of socialist ideals in the United States. However, clearly a great deal of effort went into organizing the information logically, the rhythm of the editing feels comfortable and intuitive, and certain sections of the documentary are presented in an incredibly powerful way.
One such section that is especially interesting and seems to be representative of the film’s message is near the end where there is a sudden shift from the photographs and talking heads to clips of modern-day workers’ rights activists in action. The first clip shows workers’ rights advocates wearing “UFCW Local 1208 Steppin’ 4 Justice” shirts walking out of a Walmart in Raleigh, North Carolina, after presenting the store managers with a petition with 170,000 signatures to reinstate workers who went on strike (Figure 2). The next clip shows a peaceful protest rally for workers’ rights and, finally, we see Bernie Sanders campaigning for president, bringing the legacy of Eugene V. Debs full circle. After an hour of archival footage and commentators, the shift is jarring, but appropriately so because it allows the viewers to experience the same defiant energy and atmosphere of resistance that the activists were trying to create with their demonstrations. This section shows how the life and work of Eugene Debs is still relevant in society today, nearly a century after his death.
Figure 2. An image from American Socialist (First Run Features, 2017). Vimeo
Overall, American Socialist is an extremely relevant and meaningful film; however, its style fails to reflect the accessibility and ingenuity of its subject. One of the major ideas stressed in the documentary is the fact that Eugene Debs was anything but traditional. He was radical, and his ideas were revolutionary. A documentary dedicated to his life and work should not only reflect his accomplishments, but also his progressive values and message in style and content. Nevertheless, American Socialist is a must-see for anyone involved in American politics, especially young adults and students.
Author Biography
Ashley R. Spillane is an Honors student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington majoring in Film and minoring in Digital Arts. When she is not watching, making, or writing about films, she enjoys reading, painting, and experimenting with graphic design.
Film Details
American Socialist: The Life and Times of Eugene Victor Debs (2017)
USA
Director Yale Strom
Runtime 97 minutes
