By Jason Apuzzo. Today, May 19th, is the one year anniversary of our re-launch of Libertas as Libertas Film Magazine (LFM). Govindini and I want to thank all of our writers – including (in alphabetical order) Jennifer Baldwin, Joe Bendel, Patricia Ducey, Max Garuda, Steve Greaves, David Ross and The Joker – for their wonderful contributions of this past year. It’s a great pleasure putting this site together with you all each day, and we sincerely thank you for the insight, dedication and good humor you’ve brought to this new version of Libertas. We could not do LFM without you. Our thanks also go out to Lars Larson for featuring Govindini regularly on his national radio show and for publicizing our efforts, and also to Michael Apuzzo, and to special friends of Libertas Gretchen Brooks and Rebecca Julian for their kindness and enthusiasm.
And on behalf of all of our writers, we also want to thank our readers. If there’s any group of people who make this site go, who make Libertas an exercise in communication, it’s our readers – who contribute so much in the comments section each week, and always turn what we do here into a productive and colorful conversation. We thank you humbly for your attentiveness.
When we launched this new version of Libertas last year, we described the site in our inaugural post as having “a different emphasis from that of its predecessor … Whereas the prior Libertas spent most of its time critiquing the ideological content of Hollywood entertainment – much of which is still inimical to freedom – the new Libertas Film Magazine is focused on positively promoting films that celebrate freedom, democracy, and the dignity of the individual.”
Having launched the site with that new mission, I had one major concern: whether there would be enough films to even talk about! Little did I know what a task we were actually setting ourselves – because easily the most pleasant surprise we’ve had over the past year is how many new films we’ve been able to discuss that are infused with these basic values. This has easily been the most encouraging aspect of doing this site – what filmmakers all around the world have contributed to it, by way of their creativity. And in a sense, it’s really to them that Libertas is dedicated. Their courage, devotion and vision demand a voice – and that’s what Libertas endeavors to provide.
So again, let me thank everyone, and encourage our writers to keep writing, and our readers to keep reading and commenting … but most importantly, I encourage filmmakers out there, many of whom read this site, to keep making films. You and your inspirational efforts, ultimately, are why we’re all here.
Posted on May 19th, 2011 at 9:48pm.
Congrats!
Many thanks!
Congrats to all at Libertas! You’ve done an amazing job of creating a truly unique experience on the web.
The opponents of individualism, and freedom and liberty, will not be defeated by playing their game — they have to be met with the full force of the ideologies our Founders engrained in the Declaration and the Bill of Rights: self governance and personal accountability.
Somehow, I don’t think those men would want us just to be flag-wavers, but defenders of the ideas that really transcend borders.
It’s been said that the most vulnerable minority in existence is the individual. Libertas is little corner of the world that stands up for that concept with grace, elegance, and vigor.
That’s really very kind of you to say that Vince, thanks so much. We appreciate your readership and all the insightful comments you’ve contributed to the site this past year. The debate with readers like you is a large part of what makes Libertas so enjoyable for Jason, me, and all our contributors.
We’ve worked hard here to present an alternative vision of how the principles of freedom and individualism can be celebrated through the movies. Our belief is that a positive vision of engaging with the culture is more productive in the long run than simply attacking it. People would rather find out about the films they can enjoy than the ones they should just avoid.
Fortunately, there seems to have been a minor turn-around in the culture in the past year and a half that means films with more pro-freedom viewpoints are being made, and we’re very happy to be able to discuss them with all of you.
Congrats you guys! I always find a different viewpoint to read here and I enjoy the debate.
Thank you for all your comments as well that add to the debate!
Congrats!! Always a fun read not to mention thought provoking. Hope to see Libertas around for a long time.
BTW Ms. Murty, when’s the next “fashion” piece?
Thanks for your readership, K. We hope Libertas will be around a long time too. As for my fashion pieces, I wrote a long piece on The Sartorialist street fashion site in March with lots of fashion photos that I spent hours carefully selecting, but where were you?? I didn’t see any comments from you …! 🙂
https://www.libertasfilmmagazine.com/the-sartorialist-feeding-the-visual-sense/
Perfection needs no comment. 🙂
Ad multos annos!
Please review ‘There Be Dragons’ if you get a chance to see it. Would love to read the Libertas take on it.
Thank you VW! I love it when readers post comments in Latin. Please keep it coming!
And I will check into “There Be Dragons” and see if we can get any reviews on it.
Happy Anniversary! I so enjoy reading all the contributors to “Libertas” – It is a pleasure to read not just smart writing, but truly thoughtful pieces that strive to have integrity to principle and great honesty. There is no “sucking up” to Hollywood in sight! And, I appreciate the range of films/TV you bring to the readers of this site: classics, foreign films, popular, indies, etc. I recommend you to fellow film buffs when I can and always hear gratitude from those who then discover you. I hope you celebrate in style tonight!
Thank you so much Tricia – it’s very kind of you to say that! It’s very important to us to provide an independent voice to Hollywood and to do so in as high a quality manner as possible. There are always more topics than we can possibly cover every day, but we try to select an interesting variety of topics so that when we do cover a film or TV show, we’re able to provide a new take on it. Thanks so much for recommending us to your friends, and we look forward to more fun in the years ahead with Libertas!
Congrats. I count on LFM for its refreshing perspective.
Thanks, Richard, we appreciate the kind word.