Austrian peasant farmer Franz Jägerstätter, refuses to fight for the National Socialists in World War II despite every manner of pressure, torture, and abuse. Based on a true story. [ A Hidden Life credits: Dir: Terrence Malick / August Diehl, Valerie Pachner, Maria Simon/ 174 min/ Biography, Drama, Romance/ Resistance to Tyranny, Anti-Draft, Anti-War/ 2020] External … [Read more...]
Free State of Jones (2016)
A poor white farmer refuses to defend slave-owners, and leads an armed rebellion against the Confederacy. Based on a true story. [ Free State of Jones credits: Dir: Gary Ross/ Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mahershala Ali/ 139 min/ Action-Adventure, Biography/ Anti-Draft, Anti-War, Second Amendment] External Reviews "Libertarian ode to the free state that exists … [Read more...]
Power’s War (2015)
ANTHEM FILM FESTIVAL WINNER: GRAND PRIZE A documentary examination of historical events in Klondyke, AZ, where a family was killed by law enforcement agents for draft evasion after refusing to participate in WWI. [ Power's War credits: Dir: Cameron Trejo/ 70 min/ Documentary, History/ Anti-Draft] External Reviews "Separated from the rest of the world, the Powers family … [Read more...]
Flashback (1990)
A young FBI agent gains sympathy for a former 1960s antiwar protester he must transport for trial. [ Flashback credits: Dir: Franco Amurri/ Dennis Hopper, Kiefer Sutherland, Carol Kane/ 108 min/ Abuse of power, Anti-draft] This story of an aging radical from the 1960s awakening a young FBI agent to his true (heretofore repressed) self is one that libertarians will … [Read more...]
Hair (1979)
A country boy on his way to Vietnam experiences the 1960s counterculture, and is inadvertently saved by it. [ Hair credits: Dir: Milos Forman/ Treat Williams, John Savage, Beverly D’Angelo/ 122 min/ Musical-Dance, Drama/ Anti-Draft, Anti-War] Hair opens with a close-up shot of some New York City hippies burning a draft card. It’s a significant moment because the draft is … [Read more...]
No Drums, No Bugles (1971)
A young man hides out in the hills of West Virginia to evade the draft during the American Civil War. [ No Drums, No Bugles credits: Dir: Clyde Ware/ Martin Sheen/ 85 min/ Drama/ Anti-Draft, Anti-War] No trailer available. This story of one man’s self-concealment from the law is a sympathetic portrayal of a draft-evader and a strong antiwar statement as well. It doesn’t do … [Read more...]
Shenandoah (1965)
A Virginia farmer defies both the Confederate and Union armies to steer a neutral course for his family through the American Civil War. [ Shenandoah credits: Dir: Andrew V. McLaglen/ James Stewart, Doug McClure, Glenn Corbett/ 106 min/ Western, Family/ Anti-War, Eminent Domain, Anti-Draft] Lieutenant Johnson: “[To fight this war, the State of] Virginia needs all of her … [Read more...]
Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow (1964)
Finding his parish flock taxed into poverty, a country vicar secretly takes on the king’s taxmen by night in the guise of a hideous scarecrow. [ Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow credits: Dir: James Neilson/ Patrick McGoohan, George Cole, Tony Britton/ 129 min/ Action-Adventure, Family/ Anti-Draft, Anti-Taxation] “Unjust laws can be altered as well as made by men ... Taxed … [Read more...]