Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #117608 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-07-13

Amazon.com
This film is first and only feature length documentary about the upbringing and life of Ralph Nader. Before becoming an independent presidential candidate, Nader was known as America's leading consumer advocate and author. He was responsible for the passage of dozens of major environmental, consumer and safety reforms. This film blends archival footage and scenes of Nader and his staff at work in Washington with interviews with Nader's family, friends and adversaries, as well as Nader himself.

Written, directed and produced by Mark Litwak and Tiiu Lukk, 1990, color, 72 mins.

Broadcast on PBS.

Winner, Sinking Creek Film Festival; Best of Festival, Baltimore Int'l Film Festival; Silver Plaque, Chicago Int'l Film Festival, Silver Apple, National Educational Film & Video Festival.

"A fascinating portrait...Highly recommended."--Video Librarian

This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

Customer Reviews

Nader is a national treasure
I voted for Nader during his campaigns on the Green Party ticket, and saw how his efforts inspired all sorts of grassroots activists (many of whom were welcomed to set up tables at his speaking engagements). While I understood he had no chance of winning the election, his defiance of the major parties and the education he gave attendees of his lectures were a tremendous victory. The crime of the 2000 election wasn't just the Supreme Court decision to put Bush in office, but the efforts of establishment elements of both parties to keep Ralph out of the debates. It may behoove people who are skeptical of the vote count Gore received to apply the same skepticism of the vote count Nader received in the Green's efforts to garner 5% for matching funds and a critical stamp of legitimacy. Who's to say that some Nader votes didn't disappear down the same Diebold rabbit hole that some suspect disappeared from Gore and Kerry?
Regardless, Ralph remains a critically important voice of dissent, despite the efforts of some authoritarian liberals to assassinate his character via emotionally potent oversimplifications and ad hominem attacks. And the energy expended by Dem operatives to keep him off the ballot was anti-democratic & hypocritical in the extreme. Their efforts would've been better spent reaching out to the 80 million people who don't vote at all, or the 8 million Dems who voted for Bush.
I voted for Kerry in 2004 since Colorado became a "toss-up" state, but I've been sending Nader money to help him out of the debt the Democrats put him in.
Anyway, "Nader Up Close" does an excellent job of humanizing this wonderful man who less wise folk have tried to dehumanize.
After reading a couple of Nader's books (available on Amazon for a dollar or two), it's easy to see why the power elite want this man and his legacy to be besmirched. And it's even easier to see why concerned citizens should make an effort to stand up for his character and emulate his incomparably effective methods of making this a more just society.

No Other American Has Saved More Lives Than Ralph Nader -
in the 20th century. And "Ralph Nader: Up Close" (despite its vintage of 1990) makes this fact, just that - a fact. It is well-worth purchasing to assess the particulars of a-hero-for-all-seasons. Moreover, you will receive a priceless lesson re the US Constitution and how dire its very survival stands in this Presidential electoral environment. Also, Ralph Nader is the only citizen-advocate-American-hero, I know who who could have inspired a nobody-like-me to stand up for the rights of my passion - sick and disabled kids, by throwing away what might have been a lucrative legal career as a criminal attorney. And the wonder of this film really is that it has nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with we-few who may have had the privilege of higher education. It proves so brilliantly and humbly, (via Mr. Nader himself) that anyone - any individual who believes in truth, justice and freedom can fight city hall, and make an immeasurable difference. And thank goodness, he is still there fighting that good fight. Please, take the time and your precious money to buy a keeper that you will treasure always - along with this great, great American - The Honorable (to me and countless others)... Ralph Nader.

Ralph Nader \ Up Close
Good look at established Nader in late 80s, before his runs for president. Narrated by Studs Terkel, and presented in a nice, choppy, pre-Ken Burns' documentary form. Not too stylistic.
Many interesting sections are just Nader filling in the gaps in his personal and political history. Fun to note his voice quality and gestures.
There is a fair amount of coverage of the history of citizen action under Nader, as well as scenes of him walking around his home town and around the campus of Princeton, talking about his years as a child and a student. Also included are excerpts of his college talks, and an informal and conversational gathering of Nader and original Raiders, some of whom may not be on speaking terms with him these days. But then, what family does not have its little ups and downs. (Last sentence is a line from movie The Lion in Winter.)

As I write this review, it occurs to me that I am advertising for Amazon. Shouldn't I get a discount on my next purchase?