010 Henri Langlois and May 1968 in Paris

1968 was a year of worldwide social unrest, political activism and a year I wish I had been alive for.  Poland, USA, Germany, Jamaica, Yugoslavia, Ireland, Czechoslovakia, Mexico and France experienced social and political unrest that would define each country for generations to come.  

In France, 1968 saw occupations, wild cat strikes, general strikes and an organized student movement that served as inspiration and a blueprint for activism to this day.  In early February,  the French government decided to dismiss Henri Langlois as the director of the Cinémathèque Française.  Little did they know that this decision would lead to demonstrations, protests, occupations and a world wide film boycott of the Cinémathèque.  

The filmmakers, artists and citizens that came to the defense of Langlois would end up providing the infrastructure and inspiration for the "Parallel Cinema" movement that was part of the May 1968 protests and continued to be active in the years to come.

1968 was a year of worldwide social unrest, political activism and a year I wish I had been alive for.  Poland, USA, Germany, Jamaica, Yugoslavia, Ireland, Czechoslovakia, Mexico and France experienced social and political unrest that would define each country for generations to come.  

In France, 1968 saw occupations, wild cat strikes, general strikes and an organized student movement that served as inspiration and a blueprint for activism to this day.  In early February,  the French government decided to dismiss Henri Langlois as the director of the Cinémathèque Française.  Little did they know that this decision would lead to demonstrations, protests, occupations and a world wide film boycott of the Cinémathèque.  

The filmmakers, artists and citizens that came to the defense of Langlois would end up providing the infrastructure and inspiration for the “Parallel Cinema” movement that was part of the May 1968 protests and continued to be active in the years to come.