1. Environmental and Nuclear Disarmament Movements of the 1970s and 80s (2 hour program)
   CHOOSE LIFE (1984, color 16mm, 10 minutes)
   SEABROOK 1977 (1978, b/w video, 87 minutes)
   Includes 50 minutes for introductory remarks and Q & A and audience discussion with filmmaker.
   
   
2. Central America and Indigenous America (2.5 hour program)
   HARVEST OF PEACE (1985, color 16mm, 29 minutes)
   FUTBOLITO: A JOURNEY THROUGH CENTRAL AMERICA (1994, color video, 28 minutes)
   COLUMBUS DIDN'T DISCOVER US (1992, color video, 24 minutes)
   Includes 60 minutes for introductory remarks and Q & A and audience discussion with filmmaker.
   
   
3. War and Peace - Part One (2.5 hour program)
   CALL OF THE PEACE PAGODA (1989, color video, 28 minutes)
   STRAIGHT TALK (1990, color video, 31 minutes)
   VOICES FOR PEACE (2001, color video, 25 minutes)
   Includes 60 minutes for introductory remarks and Q & A and audience discussion with filmmaker.
   
   
4. War and Peace - Part Two (2.5 hour program)
   AN ACT OF CONSCIENCE (1997, color video, 90 minutes)
   Includes 60 minutes for introductory remarks and Q & A and audience discussion with filmmaker.
   
   
5. War and Peace - Part Three (2.5 hour program)
   THE PEACE PATRIOTS (2005, color video, 78 minutes)
   Massachusetts Festival Premiere
   Includes 70 minutes for introductory remarks and Q & A and audience discussion with filmmaker.

With Film Descriptions

Environmental and Nuclear Disarmament Movements of the 1970s and 80s (2 hour program)

CHOOSE LIFE (1984, color 16mm, 10 minutes) The historic march for world peace when over a million people gathered in New York City to call for an end to the nuclear arms race on June 12, 1982.




SEABROOK 1977 (1978, b/w video, 87 minutes) Robbie Leppzer's first documentary. A chronicle of a seminal event of 1970sʼ environmental activism when 1,414 people were arrested in a civil disobedience protest at a nuclear power plant under construction in Seabrook, New Hampshire and jailed en masse in National Guard armories for two weeks. Broadcast by WGBY-TV (PBS, Springfield, MA).

“SEABROOK 1977 is an invaluable historical document. The film manages to capture not only
the sights of an extraordinary action, but the voices of ordinary people expressing their most
personal feelings about one of the critical issues of our time.”
—Howard Zinn, author of A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES

Includes 50 minutes for introductory remarks and Q & A and audience discussion with
filmmaker.

Central America and Indigenous America (2.5 hour program)
HARVEST OF PEACE (1985, color 16mm, 29 minutes) U.S. volunteers travel to a war zone in Nicaragua during the height of the U.S.-backed Contra war to harvest cotton in a uniquecitizen-to-citizen peace effort. World premiere, 1985 Telluride Film Festival. Best Nonfiction Film, 1986 San Antonio Cine Festival. Curator's Choice, 1987 New England Film Festival. Broadcast by WGBY-TV (PBS, Springfield, MA) and on Free Speech TV.

“A striking evocation of Nicaragua's struggle and a moving expression of America's best response.”
—Andrew Kopkind, THE NATION

FUTBOLITO: A JOURNEY THROUGH CENTRAL AMERICA (1994, color video, 28 minutes) A chronicle of five New England young people who travel through Guatemala and Nicaragua waging peace with “Hacky Sack” to show how a cooperative foot game can be used to make cross-cultural bridges. Broadcast by WGBY-TV (PBS, Springfield, MA) and on Free Speech TV. Excerpts broadcast nationally on the PBS series, The 90s and on The Learning Channel's Amazing America series.

“This film about down-to-earth peacemaking sends a positive, constructive message to young people everywhere.”
—David Conrad, Co-Director, Center for World Education, University of Vermont.

COLUMBUS DIDN'T DISCOVER US (1992, color video, 24 minutes) Indigenous people from North, South and Central America speak out about the impact of the Columbus legacy—past and present—on their lives. Broadcast by WGBH (PBS, Boston, MA) and on Free Speech TV. Excerpts broadcast nationally on the PBS series, The 90s.

“This moving video offers an alternative view of Columbus's place (or misplace) in history, seen through the eyes of Native Americans. A telling video, straight from the heart and the source.” —Steve Garbarino, BILLBOARD.
Includes 60 minutes for introductory remarks and Q & A and audience discussion with filmmaker.

War and Peace - Part One (2.5 hour program)

CALL OF THE PEACE PAGODA (1989, color video, 28 minutes) A portrait of a Japanese and American Buddhist spiritual community in Leverett, MA dedicated to the philosophy of nonviolence. Co-produced with and broadcast by WGBY-TV (PBS, Springfield, MA). Broadcast nationally in Canada by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Broadcast nationally on Free Speech TV.

“Filmmaker Robbie Leppzer has made the film something of a universal prayer.”
—Wes Blixt, UNION-NEWS.

STRAIGHT TALK (1990, color video, 31 minutes) Vietnam veterans speak to high school students about their first-hand experiences in war. Excerpts broadcast nationally on the PBS series, The 90s. Broadcast nationally on Free Speech TV.

“Painful and critical observations shared by Vietnam War veterans. Those who have survived combat know the real truth about war.”
—Lon Grahnke, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.

VOICES FOR PEACE (2001, color video, 25 minutes) A documentary about the first national anti-war demonstrations which took place in Washington, DC and New York City following the September 11 attacks, featuring Nobel Peace prize laureates Mairead Maguire and Adolfo Perez Esquivel. Broadcast nationally on Free Speech TV.

“VOICES FOR PEACE brings you up close to an extraordinary mosaic of people speaking from the heart about terrorism, violence, and war.”
—Howard Zinn, author of A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES

Includes 60 minutes for introductory remarks and Q & A and audience discussion with filmmaker.


War and Peace - Part Two (2.5 hour program)
AN ACT OF CONSCIENCE (1997, color video, 90 minutes) Filmed in a cinema-verité style over a five-year period, this feature-length documentary chronicles the story of a family in western Massachusetts whose home was seized by federal marshals and IRS agents after they publicly refused to pay federal taxes as a protest against war and military spending. Narrated by Martin Sheen. Produced in association with Cinemax. World Premiere, 1997 Sundance Film Festival. New York Premiere, 1997 Human Rights Watch Film Festival/ Film Society of Lincoln Center. Nationally broadcast on Cinemax and the Sundance Channel.

“AN ACT OF CONSCIENCE is one of the most deeply moving films I've seen in years. Seeing this movie lifts your spirits, exhilarates, and offers hope.”
—Studs Terkel, author of WORKING, HARD TIMES, “THE GOOD WAR”, and COMING OF AGE.

“A balanced riveting story.” —Renee Graham, THE BOSTON GLOBE.

“A modern-day Thoreauvian stand-off.”
—Kathleen Murphy, FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER.

Includes 60 minutes for introductory remarks and Q & A and audience discussion with filmmaker.

War and Peace - Part Three (2.5 hour program)

THE PEACE PATRIOTS (2005, color video, 78 minutes)
Massachusetts Festival Premiere

An intimate portrait of American dissenters reflecting on their personal participation as engaged citizens in a time of war. Filmmaker Robbie Leppzer chronicles the story of individuals living in the Connecticut River Valley of western Massachusetts who oppose the
U.S. invasion and military occupation of Iraq. The film follows a diverse group of individuals, ranging in age from 13 to 74, including middle and high school students, college students, teachers, clergy, community activists, and war veterans, as they take part in vigils, marches, theater performances, and civil disobedience sit-ins to protest the war.

Includes 70 minutes for introductory remarks and Q & A and audience discussion with filmmaker.