- Flag Wars
Infobox Film
name = Flag Wars
image_size =
caption =
director =Linda Goode Bryant
co-director = Laura Poitras
producer =Linda Goode Bryant
Laura Poitras
narrator =
starring =
music =Graham Haynes
cinematography = Laura Poitras
editing =Linda Goode Bryant
Erez Laufer
distributor =
released =
runtime = 86 minutes
country = USA
language = English
budget =
gross =
website = http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2003/flagwars/
imdb_id = 0359281"Flag Wars" is a 2003 American
documentary film about the conflict between two communities during thegentrification of aColumbus, Ohio neighborhood. Filmed in acinéma vérité style, the film is an account of the tension between the two historically oppressed communities ofAfrican-Americans andgay s in Columbus'Olde Towne East neighborhood. The film was nominated for anEmmy Award and won three awards, including aPeabody Award .Plot
"Flag Wars" is a look inside the conflicts that surface when black
working-class families are faced with an influx of whitegay homebuyers to theirColumbus, Ohio neighborhood. Filmed over four years, "Flag Wars’" “as-it-is-happening”cinéma vérité style captures the emotions and honesty of unguarded moments as tensions mount between neighbors.The story begins with Nina, a
lesbian realtor who lives and works in the neighborhood and is at the center of the changes taking place. The changes include having areas of the neighborhood designated aHistoric District (creating restrictive housing codes), an increase incode enforcement complaints, and efforts to reducelow-income housing in the community.Code enforcement is complaint driven and neighborhood resident Linda Mitchell believes the new residents moving in on her block are responsible for the code and zoning citations that have landed her in Judge Pfeiffer's Environmental Court. Linda suffers fromcirrhosis of the liver and lives ondisability insurance . She refuses to address the zoning violations and her limited resources prevent her from making repairs to her home. This puts her in jeopardy of arrest. Baba, a Yoruba priest and plumber, is the founder of the community gallery in the neighborhood, which occupies the bottom two floors of his three-story house. The name and address sign that he hangs above his porch is now in violation of Historic Code because it is carved in an African-relief style. Baba is also prosecuted in court before Judge Pfeiffer and faces fines and possible arrest for refusing to remove his sign. Jim, aworking-class gay man, works two jobs to buy a boarded upVictorian house inOlde Towne East . He risks his financial future when he purchases and begins renovations on the house using credit cards.Awards
"Flag Wars" and filmmakers
Linda Goode Bryant and Laura Poitras won the 2003 CDS Filmmaker Award at theFull Frame Documentary Film Festival , the 2003 SXSW Competition Award at theSXSW Film Festival , and the 2003 Peabody Award. It was also nominated for the 2004 Truer than Fiction Award at theIndependent Spirit Awards and a 2004Emmy Award .External links
* [http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2003/flagwars/ "Flag Wars"] site for
P.O.V. on PBS
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0359281/ "Flag Wars"] site at theInternet Movie Database
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.