In these turbulent times, Howard Zinn is inspiring a new generation. This acclaimed film looks at the amazing life of the renowned historian, activist and author. Following his early days as a shipyard labor organizer and bombardier in World War II, Zinn became an academic rebel and leader of civil disobedience in a time of institutionalized racism and war.
Co-Producer/Director/Editor (with Denis Mueller, Ph.D) 2004, 78 min.feature length documentary film about the life and times of historian, activist and author Howard Zinn and his involvement in some of the most important social movements of the past fifty years. This film has received significant popular and critical attention.
Dissemination:
Distributor: First Run Features, New York, NY. First Run Features is a one of the largest independent theatrical and home video distributors in the US. Between June and December, 2004 the film enjoyed a nationwide theatrical release, playing in over 50 cities across the country. The film was released on DVD in 2005 and has enjoyed significant commercial success. Between 2006 and 2008 the documentary aired on the Sundance Channel. In 2008 Free Speech TV started airing the film. In December 2008 the film was made available for purchase via Apple’s iTunes. Today, the film is still available as Video on Demand and DVD. First Run Features has managed the theatrical, home video and broadcast distribution of the film in North America. In November 2004 the film was “short-listed” for an Academy Award, which means that the film was included in a list of twelve films eligible that year for an Academy Award nomination in the documentary category.
In 2008 the film was chosen by the Zinn Education Project (a collaboration of two national organizations, Rethinking Schools and Teaching for Change) to be included in an education package sent to 4000 high school and junior high school teachers across the country. http://www.zinnedproject.org
Festival Screenings include:
Provincetown International Festival, winner “Audience Award – Best Documentary”
Big Muddy Film Festival, Carbondale, IL, John Michael Memorial Award
Rehoboth Beach Film Fest, November 2004, Best Documentary, Audience Award
Festival internacional dell Nuevo cine latinoameicano (North American Showcase), Havana, Cuba
Montreal International Human Rights Festival
International Human Rights Film Festival, Paris
Festoria International Film Festival, Portugal
Palm Springs International Film Festival
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, Missoula, MT
Green Mountain Film Festival, Montpelier, VT
Mountaintop Film Festival, Waitsfield, VT
Vermont International Film Festival, Burlington, VT
Television Broadcasts
Sundance Channel 2005 – 2008
FreeSpeech TV 2008 – 2009
Link TV - 2010
Various local PBS stations
Invited Presentations include:
Time and Space Limited, Hudson NY
Jacob Burns Film Center, Pleasantville, NY
Siskel Center, Chicago, IL
Lawrence University, Appleton, WI
IDFA – International Documentary Film Association Docs For Sale – Amsterdam International Documentrry Market
Film Critics
The film has maintained an approval rating of 97% at Rotten Tomatoes, a collection of film reviews from a variety of newspaper, online and magazine sources. Excerpts from several reviews are below.
“Deb Ellis and Denis Mueller’s tight and deceptively low-key documentary lets the subject eloquently speak for himself.” Lou Lumenick, New York Post
“A concise primer that should well satisfy those with a casual interest in his career.” Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter.
“A thinker and an educator, Zinn has led a life of commitment and compassion and the film offers a loving tribute.” Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
“Finally, a documentary about one of Armerica’s most important academics.” Jonathan Curiel, San Francisco Chronicle
Journal Reviews
Ione, Amy. "Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train (review)." Leonardo, vol. 38 no. 2, 2005, pp. 161-162. Project MUSE,
Mayer, Andrew M. "Howard Zinn: You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train prod. and dir. by Deb Ellis and Denis Mueller (review)." Film & History: An Interdisciplinary Journal, vol. 46 no. 1, 2016, pp. 90-92. Project MUSE,
Translation and International Distribution
Germany, 2007 Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral On A Moving Train - Eine amerikanische Lebensgeschichte, Published by Schwarzer Freitag, Berlin, Germany https://plot.org/ventures/schwarzerfreitag-publishing/
Italy, 2008 Non puoi essere neutrale quando il treno si muove, Lumière Group Multimediale,