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America: Freedom to Fascism. USA 2006. Directed by Aaron Russo

America: Freedom to Fascism is a documentary by Aaron Russo (produced for instance "Trading Places"), that the filmmaker thought once it will be concerned to one theme only: the federal income tax of United States and the fraud that some powerful bankers got away with (and still do). But there were some frightening surprises that Russo found out when digging up the history of tax fraud. The government of United States was becoming the totalitarian state, that reminds us of Germany when it was run by Nazis.

In fact, America: Freedom to Fascism still looks like a film that Russo had to change his point of view to story. This is also the minus point of this documentary, since every once awhile you can't help but thinking that you are watching some another film you began with. Aaron Russo luckily can glue these subjects and elements fairly smoothly: the violent ways of IRS are a prologue to telling of U.S. Government's direction to updated version of Nazi Germany. The release times of V for Vendetta and A Scanner Darkly are not circumstances. And this film is a brave way to remind, how Hitler had his power.

Russo's documentary brings the disadvantages of banker-puppeteered U.S. government accurately and balanced, undisputed way for the viewers attention. There are no major reasons to complain, except maybe for too little time used for telling about RFID's and computerized voting ballots, when compared to time used for surveying income tax fraud (which of course is understandable). One can also disagree with the necessity of this films unusual end titles, but when a mainstream documentary sees a civil disobedience as a true alternative, it can't be that bad. In fact, I think it is great and hopegiving to read that sentence in the end of the film.

It could seem unoriginal and too easy to compare Russo's filmmaking to Michael Moore, but there are many similarities. Russo as well is a speaker's voice, and visits as a Joe Average interviewing people in the streets when the whole serious issues are spiced up with funny animation clips. Luckily there is not a trace of plagiarism, but only the finding out the serious truth with the advantages of approachable documentary. The interviews with IRS agents, (a regular face in the documentaries of this subject) G. Edward Griffin and many other plausible people are highly interesting, and Russo's wonderful sense of humor does not affect to the credibility a bit.

Aaron Russo is not the first documentary filmmaker using the subject of money system led by private bankers in his film, but I guess he is the first to bring this unbelievable and unforgivable fraud to mainstream audience. America : Freedom to Fascism comes to theathers of U.S. in July 28, 2006. Spread the word, even if you are not living in the States, like I don't. America: Freedom to Fascism is an important film, that hopefully changes the world. I think it could.