Watch 30 Frames a Second: The WTO in Seattle

30 Frames a Second: The WTO in Seattle is a documentary film directed by Rustin Thompson and released in 2000. The movie offers an inside look at the World Trade Organization (WTO) protests that took place in Seattle in 1999. The film focuses on the experiences of Greg Lassiter, one of the activists who lived through the tumultuous events that unfolded during that time.

The film follows Lassiter as he travels to Seattle to protest against the WTO. It gives a glimpse into his thoughts, feelings and motivations for protesting, and the experiences that he had as part of the protest. Lassiter is a representative of locally owned media, which is facing severe competition from the conglomerate media as a result of free trade agreements. He sees the protests as a way to give voice to underrepresented groups, the poor, laborers and environmentalists, to express dissent and be heard.

As the story unfolds, we see the protests escalating, becoming more intense and violent over time. It seems like there are two sides to the protests - those who believe that WTO is pushing globalization with only large corporations benefiting at the expense of small, local firms, and the other side believes that free trade will improve all economies in the long run. Confrontation is apparent when groups of people start getting too close to law enforcement authorities and the National Guard is called in.

The documentary offers a raw, unfiltered depiction of the protests, including scenes of conflict between protesters and law enforcement authorities. It also shows the efforts of the organizers of the protests to maintain nonviolence and keep the demonstrations peaceful. In addition to Lassiter's viewpoint, the movie captures other perspectives and experiences of the demonstrators to paint a picture of the entire movement.

The movie also explores how the protests were a form of communicating with other groups, using an "open-source" of power, where ideas and actions multiply from person to person and create a shared objective. The organization of the demonstrations was not done just through the traditional top-down process. The film captures the role of technology and the internet at the time in bringing together so many people from different backgrounds and parts of the world, and in disseminating messages of protest.

The documentary is shot in black and white and is edited at a shaky, unsettling pace, which contributes to the sense of chaos and urgency that characterized the events of the protests. It is also interspersed with interviews with various protesters, law enforcement officers, and local politicians, which provides an additional layer of context and analysis.

30 Frames a Second: The WTO in Seattle is not only about the protests in Seattle but also about the broader issues of globalization, free trade, and social activism. It is a poignant and revealing look into the power of public protest and the importance of citizen action in shaping public policy.

Overall, the film is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of ordinary citizens to effect change - to force the world to be more open, more democratic, and more just. It reminds us that the world is not run by just big corporations or governments, but by the people if they have the determination, passion, and courage to speak truth to power.