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An Unreasonable Man

Written by Nobuhiro Hosoki

 

Should Ralph Nader have held his nose and simply supported the Democratic candidate? That is the question put to the consumer advocate who also represents the power of the individual to effect positive change.  Anytime Americans hear the name Ralph Nader, they automatically think of the past two elections--some even blame him for taking votes away from the Democrats.

Ralph Nader can be quickly summed up in the quotation by George Bernard Shaw:  "the reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man."

The first half of this film is a simple depiction of this public crusader who grew up in a small town in Connecticut, where his father influenced him in making a difference on the world by fighting city hall. After graduating from Harvard Law, Nader took his idealism into practice on the national stage, culminating in his 1965 book "Unsafe at Any Speed," which took on the corporate fat cats at GM and their unreasonable advertising. Nader brought them to their knees, resulting in the law that required automakers to install seat belts.  He even pushed the Federal Trade Commission to spearhead the Clean Air Act, and protested heavily against nuclear power plants.  His string of legislative victories attracted a cadre of young idealists, inspiring him to launch the idealistic group called "Nader's Raiders."

But he tarnished his formidable legacy by becoming a presidential candidate in 2000 and 2004, causing him to being demonized by the Democrats in the aftermath of their defeats.  It was also a blow to him when his colleagues abandoned their torches to scurry for bigger jobs in government. Even his liberal media critics despised him as a "self-deluded dishonest intellectual."  He slipped from admiration to malevolence in their eyes, and was not even allowed a podium in the 2000 presidential debates.  All his adult life, he was a workaholic who sacrificed personal relationships with anyone in favor of his sense of justice.

Director Henriette Mantel and Steve Skorovan had each performed stand-up comedy and worked in TV as writers. They succinctly portray Nader's colorful career, rounding up amazing archival footage that shines some historical light on how hard Nader has eloquently fought for the everyday citizen, while simultaneously giving a peek at the nation's ongoing political crisis.  In the end, this film chronicles his unflappable effort and uncompromising  commitment, while asking how long he can instill his notion into others It further asks whether we dismiss his legacy too easily by seeing him only as one who stuck to his guns and became a spoiler in the presidential election. All the evidence piles up to prove Nader's immeasurable achievements in our society.  He is a rare voice that definitely needs to be heard.

Written and Directed by Henriette Mantel, Steve Skrovan
Produced by Kevin O'Donnell
Director of photography: Mark Raker, Leigh Wilson, John Chater,
Matt Davis, Steve Elkins, Melissa Donavan, Sandra Chandler
Edited by Alex Provost, Beth Gallagher
Music by Joe Kraemer
Released by A Two Left Legs Production
Running time: 122 minutes.

With: Ralph Nader
Jay Acton
Theresa Amato
Pat Buchanan
Peter Camejo
Scott Carter
Joan Clay Brook
Phil Donahue
Todd Gitlin
Richard Grossman
Jason Fallows
Morton mintz
Harvey Rosenfield