Ethics (Documentaries)

Directed by Michael Moore.
127 minutes; released 2009.
In this documentary on American capitalist culture, Michael Moore investigates the effect of corporate greed on American lives and concludes that while few benefit many more suffer, experiencing job loss, home foreclosures, and poverty.

Produced by the Eternal Word Television Network.
30-minute episodes; released 2005.
Monsignor Stuart Swetland describes concretely practical ways in which Catholics today may live out principles of the Church's social teaching, citing the personal experiences of Pope John Paul II, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, St. Maximilian Kolbe, and others.

Directed by Elena Mannes.
87 minutes; released 2000.
In the series On Our Own Terms: Moyers on Dying, Bill Moyers describes the search for new ways of thinking and talking about dying. This programme consists of: Introduction -- Dying with ALS -- Desire for assisted suicide -- Denial and facing mortality -- Cost and emotional tall -- An ethical discussion -- Scheduling a suicide -- Hard choices -- Teaching med students -- Parting thoughts.

Directed by Elena Mannes.
87 minutes; released 2000.
In the series On Our Own Terms: Moyers on Dying, Bill Moyers describes the search for new ways of thinking and talking about dying. This programme consists of: Introduction -- Palliative care -- Advanced directives -- Balancing care and cost -- The 5th vital sign -- Treating psychological pain -- Caring for the poor -- Care in Nursing homes -- Leaving the patient in charge -- Understanding the end.

Directed by John Junkerman.
55 minutes; released 2003.
Noam Chomsky speaks at Harvard University about the United States' definition of terrorism and foreign policy in regard to nations and groups considered to be guilty of terrorism.

Directed by Betsy McCarthy.
30 minutes; released 2005.
Willard Gaylin, psychiatrist, bio-ethicist and president of the Hastings Center, talks with Bill Moyers about the ethical dilemmas presented by such issues as increasingly sophisticated but costly medical care and population control. He also explores the growing conflict between communities and the individual. First broadcast on A World of Ideas with Bill Moyers.

Directed by Angelo Sacerdote.
58 minutes; released 2002.
Using archival footage and interviews, this video presents an overview of the American food production system and explores the unintentional effects of pesticides, the resistance of biotechnology companies to food labeling and the links between government officials and major biotechnology and chemical companies.

Directed by Robert Gardner.
60 minutes; released 2002.
Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and author of the Holocaust memoir Night, talks about his life, work and concerns for the future of humankind. He discusses his experiences as a journalist in Paris and Jerusalem, his authorship of more than 40 novels, plays and essays, and the events of September 11, 2001.

Directed by Barbet Schroeder.
90 minutes; released 1974.
A dark documentary of the self-styled dictator of Uganda providing a disturbing portrait of one of the 20th century's most notorious figures.

Directed by Greg Barker.
115 minutes; released 2004.
A PBS documentary about the massacre of over 800,000 Rwandans in 1994.

Produced by the Eternal Word Network.
30-minute episodes; released 2005.
Raymond De Souza discusses the Natural Law, the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, and how best to defend the faith in everyday life.

Produced by VisionTV Insight.
39 minutes; released 2002.
Media critic Barrie Zwicker challenges the official explanation for the September 11th attack, and considers the implications of America's "war on terrorism".

Directed by Peter Davis.
112 minutes; released 1974.
Recounts the history and attitudes of the opposing sides of the Vietnam War using archival news footage as well as new footage and interviews. A key theme is how attitudes of American racism and self-righteousness militarism helped create and prolong this bloody conflict.

Produced by Exodus International.
50 minutes; released 2006.
Five Christians, most of whom have struggled with same-sex attraction, answer frequently raised questions about homosexuality and offer answers from a Christian perspective.

Directed by Deb Ellis and Denis Mueller.
78 minutes; released 2004.
Beginning with his early days as a shipyard labour organizer and bombardier in the Second World War, this documentary shows how Howard Zinn became an academic rebel and leader of civil disobedience at a time of institutionalized racism and war.

Directed by Mike Jay.
57 minutes; released 2000.
A panel discussion on the Human Genome Project, and the implications for the future. This discussion was aired on the Charlie Rose Show on June 23, 2000.

Produced by Z Video Productions.
101 minutes; released 2005.
Noam Chomsky covers the war in Iraq, the U.S. policy of obtaining strategic power and leverage over its key rivals, the hypocrisy of the U.S. "messianic vision" of bringing "democracy" and "freedom" to every corner of the world while violating democratic principles, international law, and increasing the threat of terror.

Directed by Amos Gelb.
50 minutes; released 2002.
An A&E report on human cloning.

Directed by Michael Kirk.
60 minutes; released 2005.
Frontline and the Washington Post join forces to trace the political history of the man who has been Bush's chief strategist from the beginning. Karl Rove is described as having been on the inside of every political and policy decision of the Bush administration.

Directed by Elena Mannes.
90 minutes; released 2000.
In the series On Our Own Terms: Moyers on Dying, Bill Moyers describes the search for new ways of thinking and talking about dying. This programme consists of: Introduction; Living with dying: a journal; End-of-life care; Respecting one's beliefs; The search for comfort; A voyage or convenience?; Hospice: human kindness; Decisions and spirituality; Managing the end; The end of the struggle.

Produced by Z Video Productions.
76 minutes; released 2002.
Noam Chomsky discusses the war on terrorism, media disinformation, Mideast politics, and U.S. foreign policy.

Directed by Mark Achbar and Peter Wintonick.
167 minutes; released 1992.
This documentary presents a detailed look at the political beliefs of Noam Chomsky. The directors also raise the meaty and contentious issue of mass-media influence in a democratic society. The centerpiece of the film is a long examination into the history of the New York Times' coverage of Indonesia's atrocity-ridden occupation of East Timor, reportage that was absolutely in lock step with the government's unwillingness to criticize an ally.

Directed by Sidney Bernstein.
60 minutes; released 1985.
In 1945, British and American film crews accompanied Allied troops as they liberated Nazi death camps. These crews witnessed and captured Nazi atrocities firsthand. The resulting film, directed in part by Alfred Hitchcock but left unfinished, was discovered by PBS Frontline in 1984 and rebroadcast.

Produced by Z Video Productions.
111 minutes; released 2002.
Sponsored by the Culture and Technology Forum at MIT, Chomsky's 2001 talk in The New War on Terrorism focuses on examples of US terror to argue for political dissent and change.

Produced by Z Video Productions.
75 minutes; released 2001.
Talk by Noam Chomsky on United States policy and threats to freedom.

Directed by Barak Goodman and Rachel Dretzin.
90 minutes; released 2004.
Hosted by Douglas Rushkoff, this documentary examines the lucrative "persuasion industries" of advertising and public relations and shows how they have come to shape American life, politics and public opinion.

Directed by Ofra Bikel.
90 minutes; released 2004.
Faced with the fact that nearly 95 per cent of all criminal cases are resolved through plea bargains rather than by juries, this documentary investigates the moral, judicial and constitutional implications of relying on plea bargains to expedite justice.

Directed by Ilan Ziv.
48 minutes; released 1990.
This documentary focuses on the November 16, 1989 murder of six Jesuit priests in El Salvador by uniformed soldiers, and its consequences. The film looks at the personal histories of the priests and their murderer, the history of El Salvador during their time, and the role and attitude of the church and the University in Salvadoran society.

Directed by Mike Jay.
57 minutes; released 2001.
A panel discussion on human cloning. This discussion was aired on the Charlie Rose Show on February 14, 2001.

Directed by Public Affairs Television, Inc.
87 minutes; released 2005.
In the series On Our Own Terms: Moyers on Dying, Bill Moyers describes the search for new ways of thinking and talking about dying. This programme consists of: Introduction; The balm of Gilead; Linking home with hospital; Soul pain; Costs and care; Hospice caregivers; Who bereaves the bereaver?; Improving the system; Parting thoughts.

Directed by Michael Kirk.
90 minutes; released 2005.
Frontline goes behind closed doors to investigate the decision to use "coercive interrogation" on enemy fighters during the "War on Terror."

Directed by Eugene Jarecki.
80 minutes; released 2002.
A documentary which investigates the involvement of United States Secretary of State in war crimes and other illegal activities in Cambodia and Chile.

Directed by Leni Riefenstahl.
120 minutes; released 1935.
Commissioned by Adolf Hitler, this film records the 1934 Nazi party rally in Nuremberg. Gatherings, marches, parades, and speeches by Hitler, Goering, Goebbels, and Hess are included as well as samples of monumental architecture designed by Albert Speer. In German with optional English subtitles.

Produced by Frontline with RAINmedia.
90 minutes; released 2003.
A PBS Frontline episode which traces the roots of the Iraqi war back to the days immediately after September 11, 2001.

Directed by Jim de Sève.
83 minutes; released 2004.
A gay-positive documentary about the debate over same-sex marriage in the United States.

Directed by Robert Greenwald.
90 minutes; released 2004.
Takes the viewer behind the walls of government, as CIA, Pentagon and foreign service experts speak out detailing the lies, misstatements and exaggerations that served as the reasons for fighting a "preemptive" war against Iraq that wasn't necessary.

Directed by Danny Schechter.
98 minutes; released 2004.
Schechter, who has worked as a producer for a number of major broadcast media outlets, examines news coverage of the war in Iraq. Schechter explores how the U.S. military and George W. Bush's advisors "stage managed" the Iraq war in order to win a favorable opinion from the public and keep the media's eyes away from issues and situations they found problematic.

Produced by Z Video Productions.
42 minutes; released 2002.
Howard Zinn argues that the 2002 war in Iraq is not so much a war on terror as a manifestation of ongoing US foreign policy.

Produced by Ignatius Press.
30 minutes; released 2002.
Father Walter Ciszek is admired worldwide for having survived 23 years in Russian gulags. Sent to Poland as a missionary in 1938, Ciszek was soon arrested by the KGB, accused of spying, and sent to Siberia, where he remained until 1963. This documentary tells the story of this Jesuit's life, shows his influence on the Catholic resurgence in Russia, and emphasizes Ciszek's trust in God.

Directed by William Karel.
93 minutes; released 2004.
A film by Karel, with the participation of France 2. This documentary explores the policies of the Bush administration - including the erosion of freedom entailed in the The Patriot Act, and of the Bush family - including it's ties to Saudi Arabian oil.