By Dr Glenville Ashby[email protected]One might argue that ’70: Remembering a Revolution, simply chronicles a bygone tale of disgruntled Trinidad and Tobago nationals, who, economically defanged and disenfranchised, rose up to challenge their perceived oppressors. They may go a step further – that things have changed,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, and any reference to that period is purely anecdotal – merely archival. On one hand, such an assessment rings true. Things have indeed changed – by leaps and bounds. Yes, African and Indian nationals ostensibly hold the levers of power.Banks – one time foreign-owned – are inclusive, and visibly integrated into communities. But “’70″ is more than a walk through memory lane. It is far more insightful,Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale, provocative, and sociologically instructive. “’70″ relentlessly marches through the so called black power riots that shook the Trinidad and Tobago establishment.The interviewees – all of whom were players and witnesses to the unfoldment of events are captivating – detailing pivotal snaptshots with remarkable lucidity.? They ooze?nostalgia – teleporting older viewers to indelible scenes of bedlam and uncertainty. These recollections -interspersed with black and white video clips, still images, and timely calypso lyrics – make for a compelling cinematographic production.The events are carefully pieced together, ?interwoven, with particular focus on the seeds of the revolution – planted by student protests at George Williams University in Canada, and black consciousness rhetoric in the US.It was a time when the streets of Port of Spain and tranquil villages of Tobago grew restive – bursting at their seams – with marchers poised to overthrow an inegalitarian system. But the clamour petered out – victim of a tactical move by the government to declare a state of emergency and arrest agitators, who were nothing more than political dilettantes. With a bungling army hesitating to seize control – as it had planned, the so called revolution plunged into tail spin.May be the ’70 uprising should not be categorized as a revolution in the first place. Although its ring leaders supposedly took their philosophical cue from Marx, Lenin, Che Guevara,NFL Jerseys Supply, and Castro – they missed the mark (unlike their mentors) – displaying ineptitude, political immaturity, and gross inability to seize power that was theirs for the taking.But this is a documentary that transcends the usurpation of political power. Despite its acerbic racial overtone, the events were shaped by unbearable cronyism and class warfare.Unquestionably, “’70″ is multi-layered, with a number of intriguing subplots – none more relevant than the ethnic question. The mantra:”Africans and Indian unite,” posed an existential threat to the apparatchiks and the Syrian-Lebanese community. Although vestiges of unity were evident, as Indians lined the streets to welcome African marchers – offering water,Cheap Jerseys From China, food, and even lodging – they never really joined the demonstrations. But the thought of unity – a blow to the divide and rule strategy of the time, was enough to rattle the ruling clique. The question remains, though: After four decades, how much closer is genuine unity between the two largest ethnic communities?And amid this sharply contested political drama, religion reared its head. That black theology assumed ascendancy in the throes of the revolt is understandable. But for many, the silence of mainstream Christianity was troubling, especially at a time when liberation theology was emerging throughout the Americas.As interviewees take their final curtain call against hauntingly timely calypsos,Authentic NBA Jerseys Cheap, one is left gripped by the rawness, authenticity, and originality of this documentary.For sure, the producers of “’70″ have managed the herculean task of gluing disparate philosophies and viewpoints of an event that forever impacted a nation. Alas,cheap jerseys from china, it is never easy to address the array of forces that collide in young and diverse societies – especially those?shaped by centuries of colonial rule.Dr Glenville Ashby, literary critic- Caribbean Book Review’70: Remembering a Revolution. A Documentary, 2012www.70themovie.comDirected and Produced by Elizabeth Topp and Alex de VerteuilProduction House: Pearl and Dean (Caribbean) Ltd, Port of SpainRating: ****: Highly Recommended