Raging Grannies: The Action League

Watch out for these women!
by
Pam Walton
2010
30 mins

These women are not your mothers' grandmothers! Raging Grannies is a lively and thought-provoking 30-minute documentary that tells the story of The Action League of the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula. Their efforts to change the world are simultaneously changing what it means to be an older woman.

This thought-provoking look at the Raging Grannies is funny, inspiring, and surprisingly moving. Viewers can gain valuable insight on the workings of one of the movement's most active chapters, observe a sample of unique Granny protests, and are treated to an incredible series of interviews with individual Grannies. I highly recommend this fascinating documentary for activists and for students at all levels in Sociology, Women's Studies, Community Organizing, and Gerontology.
Dana Sawchuk
PhD, Associate Professor of Sociology, Wilfred Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Synopsis

The Action League Grannies have been spied on by the California National Guard. They've been written about in Time magazine, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the San Jose Mercury News. They've appeared on Fox News with Bill O'Reilly, Jon Stewart's Comedy Central, and are regulars in Bay Area evening news stories. In public, they've been both booed and cheered, but they continue to protest with a sense of outrage, a sense of humor, and a commitment to non-violence. How do these older women keep doing what they do? As we travel with the Grannies to their many gigs, we see that life isn't over at 50 or 60 or even 90.

Reviews
The women are marvelous... the footage and interviews are just priceless.
Bettina Aptheker
Professor Feminist Studies, UC Santa Cruz
This film was fun to watch and could be used in social studies or political science classes studying protest groups or as a primer on how to get a local group activated. Recommended.
Educational Media Reviews Online
Educational Media Reviews Online
These women provide a model for us all about how to age with energy, compassion, and creativity!
Margaret W. Matlin
PhD, Distinguished Teaching Professor of Psychology, SUNY Geneseo, NY
This is an uplifting film about older women who make a difference for progressive causes and have fun while doing it. Great character portrayals of great women. They inspire my Stanford students.
Carol H. Winograd
MD Professor of Medicine (Geriatrics) and Human Biology, Emerita Stanford University
Raging Grannies captures the essence of the Grannies' brave crusade not only for future generations, but also for their fellow older women.
Films for the Feminist Classroom
Films for the Feminist Classroom
Read more at: FFC.TWU.Edu

Awards and Screenings
National Mature Media Association Merit Award
Honorable Mention, Big Muddy Film Festival
Brussels Women's Film Festival
Free Speech TV
Truly CA Shorts, KQED, San Francisco
Frameline33
Cinequest, San Jose International Film Festival
San Francisco & Miami International Women's Film Festivals
Poppy Jasper Short Film Festival

Features and Languages

Film Features

  • Closed Captioning

Subtitle/Caption Languages

  • English

Promotional Material

Promotional Stills

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