When laws are unjust, people are willing to become outlaws. In the film “Just Do It,” subtitled, “A Tale of Modern-Day Outlaws,” one of these extreme activists says, “I put my body in the way and I don’t mind being arrested.”
Filmed in England and Denmark before Occupy Wall Street began, “Just Do It” follows young adults mostly. One of the committed tacticians attracts particular attention. Being middle aged, she’s kind of like having your mum be part of the rabble rousing – in a good way.
“Have a cup o’ tea,” she’ll offer, in her oh so British way, to police and other agents of corporate stoked domination. She can get testy though, like the time police tried to shove her off a protest encampment without letting her pick up her kettle. “It has to be fun and exciting and good friends,” she’ll also offer, knowing that this does not contradict their serious place in the world.
These folks seem more assertive than most of their Occupy brethren, but with a kindred spirit of non-violence. They seem more focused, with their actions against complicity in global climate change. The film runs a bit long and loosely assembled, but this hardly detracts from the personable vérité about something that will be marginalized by the media to everybody’s peril.
An insider look at what they do and why and how, “Just Do It” airs activism that is likely to become more widespread as the divide between the one percent and the ninety-nine becomes more wide spread.