Sunday PM at Sundance: “Anita”

Documentary Premier.  Director: Freida Mock.  U.S.A., 2013, 95 min., color.

Description:  “Anita Hill, an African American woman, charges Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas with sexual harassment in explosive Senate hearings in 1991 – bringing sexual politics into the national consciousness and fueling 20 years of international debate on the issues.”

This was a disappointment to me, although I have to admit I was really tired.  Top of the Lake had started at 9:00 a.m. and Anita began at 9:30 p.m.  Long day.

It started with random scenes from Anita Hills testimony at the Senate hearings through Joe Biden declaring the hearings closed.  We had not remembered that he had chaired those hearings.  It also showed her return to work as a law school professor.  That was all great.  The problem for me was a very long coverage of her life following the hearings, including her being welcomed at many, many organizational conferences.  To me that watered down the message.  Seems others agreed because in the Q&A several people asked Freida Mock why she had not included or mentioned other pieces of information or events relevant to the issue.  Her answer was that Anita Hill wanted it to be about her life and not political.

To see the “Anita” listing in the Sundance Film Festival Guide, including the trailer, click here.