“A most useful educational tool”
Michael Parenti, author of Democracy for the Few and The Face of Imperialism This film reveals a neglected chapter of US colonialism and the struggle for justice and democracy that continues to this day. An informative, well done, compassionate story, and a most useful educational tool.
“Visually engaging, tightly edited and well-paced”
Don Rubenstein, Professor of Anthropology and Micronesian Studies at the University of Guam Review published by Asian Educational Media Service The Insular Empire is a visually engaging, tightly edited and well-paced film. The film is also thoroughly researched and accurate in its treatment of a lengthy historical chronology and complex political landscape. Buyers of an institutional copy […]
“A Must-See Teaching Tool”
J. Kehaulani Kauanui, Assoc. Prof. of American Studies/Anthropology at Wesleyan University, and author of Hawaiian Blood: Colonialism and the Politics of Sovereignty and Indigeneity The Insular Empire is a must-see teaching tool… this excellent project grapples with the moral and legal questions regarding imperialism, military expansion, and self-determination in a way that is brilliantly incisive […]
“The American empire at home”
Andrew Feldman, Foreign Policy in Focus By raising uncomfortable questions about the vestiges of imperialism in our democracy, The Insular Empire is effective at telling the story of a people whose perspective has been absent for far too long. (Full text of the review can be found here.)
“Brilliant, heartbreaking and beautiful… a lasting tribute”
Travis Coffman, Newstalk K57, Guam I have covered the Marianas for nearly 20 years as a journalist and broadcaster, and this feature captures the essence of the relationship between the U.S. and its possessions more accurately than any single work I’ve ever come across. It is at once brilliant, heartbreaking and beautiful without pandering to […]
“The history they didn’t teach us in school”
The Huffington Post “Guam: Self-Determination or More U.S. Troops?” by Robert Naiman Usually, when someone refers to a place as a “U.S. colony,” they are making an analogy, suggesting that U.S. influence somewhere is so strong, and the indigenous residents of the place have so little effective say over key decisions, that it’s as if […]
“Beautiful and moving… should be a wake-up call for all Americans.”
Chalmers Johnson, Prof. Emeritus of Political Science, UC San Diego, and Author of the Blowback Trilogy: “This very beautiful and moving film deals with some “hidden history” about American imperialism. Nor is it only history, since the U.S. government is about to inflict a still greater military base expansion on Guam, which its ecology cannot […]
“A valuable resource for teaching and organizing.”
The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus Film Review by John Junkerman Mention “The Insular Empire” to the average American, and they’d likely have no idea what you were talking about. They probably still wouldn’t get it if you gave them another clue: “America in the Mariana Islands.” These are the title and subtitle of a new […]
“A real achievement of lasting value.”
Don Brenneis, Professor of Anthropology, UC Santa Cruz: “The Insular Empire is an invaluable contribution to our understanding of American colonialism – and of the painful ironies of contemporary empire in the Marianas and beyond. A real achievement of lasting value.”
“Compelling…”
Zoltan Grossman, Professor of Geography, Evergreen State College: “For Americans who think that colonialism is a relic of the past, or that military expansion is merely a recent response to 9/11, this compelling film documents the longstanding negative effects of military colonization and bases on the people of Guam and the Northern Marianas. It also […]