A journalist discovers spontaneous order in city development -- and takes on City Hall to fight its vision of a bulldozed, centrally-planned urban landscape. [ Citizen Jane: Battle for the City credits: Dir: Matt Tyrnauer/ 92 min/ Documentary/ Eminent Domain, Libertarian Heroes/ 2017] “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and … [Read more...]
Little Pink House (2017)
Susan Kelo, a small-town nurse, fights against the eminent domain seizure of her home -- all the way to the Supreme Court. [ Little Pink House credits: Dir: Courtney Balaker/ Catherine Keener, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Aaron Douglas/ Drama/ Eminent Domain] External Reviews "Little Pink House brings urgency to a fascinating, underexplored theme." --Hollywood … [Read more...]
Leviathan (2014)
ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE: BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM When the mayor of a Russian coastal town uses eminent domain to seize a home, the owner fights back--but he can't win against the corrupt and all-powerful Leviathan state. [ Leviathan credits: Dir: Andrey Zvyagintsev/ Aleksey Serebryakov, Elena Lyadova, Roman Madyanov/ 140 min/ Drama/ Eminent Domain, Corrupt … [Read more...]
Battle for Brooklyn (2011)
WINNER: TOP 25 LIBERTARIAN DOCUMENTARIES When influential politicians and powerful business interests use eminent domain to seize part of Brooklyn for a city-approved development scheme, local residents fight back. [ Battle for Brooklyn credits: Dir: Michael Galinsky, Suki Hawley/ 93min/ Documentary/ Eminent domain] External Reviews "“The movie…has heart, soul and … [Read more...]
Begging For Billionaires: The Attack on Property Rights in America (2009)
An examination of the effects of the Supreme Court Kelo case, which led to widespread abuse of eminent domain by local governments often for the benefit of well-connected developers. [ Begging For Billionaires: The Attack on Property Rights in America credits: Dir: Phil Klein/ 57 min/ Documentary/ Eminent Domain] External Reviews "Friends of liberty and property can … [Read more...]
The Castle (1997)
WINNER: TOP 25 LIBERTARIAN FILMS When an airport attempts to “compulsorily acquire” a home in its vicinity through the use of eminent domain, the homeowner it intends to evict fights back. [ The Castle credits: Dir: Robert Sitch/ Michael Caton, Anne Tenney, Stephen Curry/ 82 min/ Comedy, Drama/ Australia/ Eminent Domain] A man’s home is his castle. Hence the title of … [Read more...]
Stranger on My Land (1988)
A rancher resists the seizure of his land by the Air Force. [ Stranger on My Land credits: Dir: Larry Elikann/ Tommy Lee Jones, Dee Wallace Stone, Ben Johnson/ 94 min/ Drama/ Eminent Domain, Second Amendment] Eminent domain—the right of government to seize private property for public use—was originally intended for emergencies but is used today for even the most routine … [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...]
All at Sea (1957)
A retired Royal Navy captain challenges corrupt local government after his property is condemned and seized. [ All at Sea credits: Dir: Charles Frend/ Alec Guinness, Irene Brown, Percy Herbert/ 82min/ Comedy/Britain/Eminent Domain, Government Enforced Morality] Note: film also listed as Barnacle Bill. During the 1950s, Britain’s Ealing Studios produced some of the finest … [Read more...]