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Drama » Political Drama
A type of drama that often posits political commentary within larger, more conventional subgenres such as historical epics, docudramas and thrillers. Other than featuring protagonists caught in highly political settings -- often involving issues such as loyalty to country and set during moments of historical significance or turbulence -- this brand of film rarely contains repeated conventions, making it more a film's focus than a genre. In America, the largest number of these films fall into three groups. One involves examinations and/or moralizing about government or government officials, usually with a negative slant (All the King's Men, Missing, Born on the Fourth of July). Another blends with the biopic and inspects the life and times of a famous political figure (Young Mr. Lincoln, Malcolm X, Michael Collins). The third captures politics from the "Everyman" point of view, looking at how politics affect average Americans (City of Hope, Nashville, Medium Cool). Internationally, especially in Third World countries, political dramas sometimes take on a greater meaning, as many directors use them as motivational weapons to rally public support or disgust around a crucial issue. Historically, many have been viewed equally as either threatening propaganda or authentic truth. Memories of Underdevelopment from Cuba, Official Story from Argentina, Hidden Agenda from Britain, In the Name of the Father from Ireland are just a handful of examples.
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Directed by Alan J. Pakula, Dustin Hoffman, Hal Holbrook, Jack Warden, Martin Balsam, Robert Redford
1976