To the editors:
Jonathan Rosenbaum’s article, “Nihilism for the Masses” [February 2], starts out sounding like a welcome defense of Michael Moore’s Roger & Me against Harlan Jacobson’s criticism in a recent Film Comment. Unfortunately, Rosenbaum goes on to make a similar mistake as he is criticizing. He tells us that the film causes us to laugh at our own impotence and takes advantage of us as victims. Further, he suggests that the film does not do what it should have done.
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What exactly are films of social conscience supposed to do? Who sets the criteria for their success? The fact that so many people respond to and discuss the myriad issues raised in Roger & Me speaks to its success. If filmmakers or anyone had the total solution, the vast social and economic injustices we face would be uprooted by now. Only working people in vast numbers can take on the mighty corporate giants and the government who are responsible for the devastation brought by plant shutdowns and layoffs. Bringing these issues to the fore in a popular way that can reach large audiences is a great contribution to the overall struggle.
Linda Loew N. Hermitage
