The Fourth World War // A Big Noise Film

I’m sitting in my room, terrified. I don’t want to turn on the TV, read a newspaper, or open a web browser for fear that I will be exposed to another act of violence, another atrocity committed by one person against another, just one more piece of evidence that proves that humanity is in a state of disrepair and it is only a matter of time before the weight of the accumulated hatred and disregard for life causes the whole world to collapse upon itself. And yet, the scariest part, the part that makes me lie awake at night, the part that paralyzes me with fear is that a majority of people walk around oblivious to the suffering, misery, death, torture, desperation, and struggle that is occurring right outside their SUV doors, their air-conditioned Macy’s, their dorm room floor, their dive bar stool, their rustic front porch, their punk rock club, and their Republican Convention. 

No longer young idealistic enough, I’m petrified by the reality and consequences of the policies of the US government. In the wake of recent events, I feel like I can only sit back, numb, and watch as all that is supposed to be great about America is slowly dismantled. Then wince at the thought of the reverberations that will be felt around the world. The perceived power of the voting citizen is being stomped out by the personification of what is supposed to be the elected guardian, caretaker, and voice of those it is silencing. I want to know when it was that the elected government stopped caring about their constituents’ well being and instead started seeing commodities, dollar signs, and suckers. And I don’t want to be perceived as being naïve or wistful for asking these questions.



The world is on fire and those most capable of putting out the blaze instead throw gasoline on the flames. Millions of dissenting voices cry out from every corner of the globe, clamoring for peace, but this roar of rationality falls on the deaf ears of haughtiness. Those in power who believe that they act in the best interest of all, who act as if they are above their countrymen, for all their shouting about what is right , still trip up on the basic human emotions of stubbornness and insecurity. There is more courage in one dissenter than in all the elected who sit back and point fingers and push buttons and talk righteously the whole time about why.

The Fourth World War spans the globe to cover the struggles being undertaken all across the world. In Argentina all classes unite to oppose a corrupt government. In South Korea workers march against the factory owners who keep them from earning a decent living. The Zapatistas in Mexico fight their displacement from a farming lifestyle that has sustained them for centuries. Blacks in South Africa try to beat out the lingering effects of the Apartheid system. Protesters in Canada seek to make their voices heard amongst the congregated leaders. Innocent Palestinians recoil at the slaughter of their people. No matter where your place in the world, someone near you is feeling the sting of oppression. 

The unifying theme throughout the film is that no matter the country, culture, or race, when a certain segment of a population is bullied or pushed too far they will eventually push back and fight for their freedom. History has shown us that all oppressive ruling parties will eventually be toppled by those they try to oppress. The Fourth World War is a reminder that we need not examine the past for examples of revolution and is a wake up call to those who sit idly by and complain that the state has become too powerful.



For all the successes the film documents, nothing is wrapped up neatly in a happy ending. Victories are gained, but the cause continues. The Fourth World War is a testament to the perseverance of those populations bullied around the globe. As long as a segment of the population is marginalized, the fight continues. 

Unlike many of other films with a leftist message that have been released recently, The Fourth World War does not suffer from a feeling that it is only preaching to the choir. Most importantly, this film views struggle at the international level, not just focusing on the US. Detractors would be hard pressed to pass The Fourth World War off as more bleeding heart liberal propaganda. The film does well to document the uprisings and to allow these images to speak for themselves. Not only do these images speak, they yell, clamor, and scream to be heard.

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Kevin Alfoldy, a staff writer for LAS, lives and works in San Francisco. If he could, he'd vote twice in November's elections.
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