Strange Culture discusses the drama and government disaster involving the death of Steve Kurtz’ wife and his subsequent accusations and arrest. The films agenda is obvious: Is the US government really helping and have the right to invade a citizen’s life like Steve Kurtz or has the US government gone too extreme in its terrorist fears and exercise of the PATRIOT act in regards to freedom of speech?
Tilda Swinton definitely helps the appeal of this movie to a wider crowd outside of the documentary lovers or artists and audience concerned with the life and prosecution of Steve Kurtz. Where Steve Kurtz may lack screen appeal, Tilda fits the style and setting of the movie quite well. She continues to fill her consistent role of a strong determined women as she has in other films.
The film is not a Friday night movie for sheer entertainment, but it is an excellent film to bring up questions and discussions concerning the US government, privacy, and what is too far. Further topics that are brought up are the personal struggles and situations that of Middle Easterners in the US that are under the scrutinizing and skeptical eye of the US government.
Two purposes dominate this film: Concerning the life of Steve Kurtz and the evidence standing against him, the charges and actions taken against his life’s work are ridiculous and overboard. Concerning the US government, how significant and major is this scar and consequent blindspot that is unjustly affecting innocent people of a good cause.
Reviewed by: Brent Dongell.
Rating: M.
Duration: 75 mins.
Genre: Documentary, Culture & Society.
Director: Lynn Hershman-Leeson.
Actors: Tilda Swinton, Peter Coyote, Thomas Jay Ryan, Josh Kornbluth, Steve Kurtz.
Distributor: Madman.
Release Date: Available now.
