I
read with sadness that legendary cinematographer Haskel Wexler passed
away. He was 93. Leftist film and video makers should note his name, and
hoist a glass his way. He was a fellow traveler who worked on leftist
classics such as the 1954 blacklisted film "Salt of the Earth." He shot
"Medium Cool," and a generation later was cinematographer for John
Sayles' "Matwan," and others. In between, he went to Viet Nam with Jane
Fonda, filmed the Weather Underground, and picked up a few Oscars here
and there.
Kay and I chatted with Wexler during
a break at a conference for "Salt of the Earth," held on the 50th
anniversary of the film. We were there because Kay had shown that film
year after year to her high school English students. In the early 70s, I
had screened an original 16mm print of it many times to
soldiers as part of the GI movement against the Viet Nam war, and had
later made a point of showing it to union workers in a variety of
venues. Haskel Wexler was from the WW II generation, one of the
forefathers who faced down the incredible repression of the witch-hunt
days, and continued to put out political work that made a difference to
the generations who followed. When we met him in 2003, he was still
active and quite animated.
What I'm most proud
of is that Haskel Wexler once contacted PepperSpray Productions, asking
us for permission to use our Lt. Watada footage. I was so pleased that a
guy whose work I had admired and used so much had found value in our
coverage of the Watada story. Our footage ended up in a film on Lt.
Watada where Haskel Wexler is credited as cinematographer, "In
the Name of Democracy: America's Conscience, a Soldier's Sacrifice."
That's a great honor for all the PepperSpray Collective, and our little
connection to one hell of an activist and cinematographer.
Rest In Peace, Brother Haskel Wexler.
Randy Rowland
