Operation Lysistrata (2006)

Director:

Michael Patrick Kelly

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

03/03/03, the theater world takes the stage against the war in Iraq

Plot:

In January 2003, two women in New York City, Kathryn Blume and Sharron Bower, thought to organize readings of the ancient Greek play by Aristophanes...

Cast

F. Murray Abraham	...	Himself
Cheryl Black	...	Herself
Kathryn Blume	...	Herself
Sharron Bower	...	Herself
Meg A. Bucks	...	Meg A. Bucks (as Billionaires for Bush)
Kathleen Chalfant	...	Herself
Robin Eublind	...	Robin Eublind (as Billionaires for Bush)
Mark Greene	...	Himself
Suzanne Hayes	...	Herself
Tony Kushner	...	Himself
Xavier Laret	...	Himself
Amanda Stephens Lee	...	Herself
Shellen Lubin	...	Herself
Judith Malina	...	Herself
Ellen McLaughlin	...	Herself
Paul Meacham	...	Himself
Daniel Merrit	...	Himself
Mark Nash	...	Himself
Drue Robinson-Hagen	...	Himself
Mercedes Ruehl	...	Herself
Howard Zinn	...	Himself

Runtime:

78 min | USA:83 min (THE FILMMAKER SAYS SO!)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Aquapio Films

Powerfully inspiring documentary about taking personal action

Through the 90 minutes of "Operation Lysistrata" I alternated between my eyes filling with tears, and my throat with laughter. And there are moments in this wonderful documentary that elicit both reactions at once.

This film had an impact on me that I had not at all anticipated. I won't go so far as to say that I had an epiphany - but I do think I was given a gift. I was reminded that each individual matters and has value. The message, repeated by various speakers in this film, is that ultimately neither success nor failure is the true object of an endeavor. Rather, it is the act of making the effort to do something that you believe in that can (and should) give you self-satisfaction.

To try, and succeed, is gratifying. To try, and not succeed, is disappointing. To not try at all is to give up; to quit; to abdicate your individuality. "Operation Lysistrata" tells us that this latter choice is not acceptable and that each of us must be true to ourselves regardless the outcome.

I hope that I can hold onto this lesson, this gift. I am truly grateful for everyone who was involved in the Lysistrata Project in 2003, and the makers of this film which documents that event. Thank you, thank you.