Amy Goodman Doc 'Steal This Story, Please!' Opens April 10
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- "Steal This Story, Please!" is a new documentary profiling "Democracy Now!" host Amy Goodman, directed by Carl Deal and Tia Lessin, recapping her career from a famous Bill Clinton NAFTA interview to her support of Palestine since October 7.
- "Democracy Now!" is a daily nonprofit radio show entering its fourth decade on air and digital, funded by foundation and individual donations rather than advertisers.
- Deal and Lessin are self-distributing the film this spring following a festival run that began at Telluride, opening at IFC Center in New York on April 10 and in Los Angeles on April 17, with national expansion to follow.
- The reviewer criticizes the documentary as a "greatest hits compilation" that casts Goodman as an unambiguous hero without exploring nuances, mistakes, or her evolution across decades.
- The release timing places the film in the months leading up to a crucial set of U.S. midterm elections, positioning it as a grassroots activism tool aimed at energizing existing fans rather than persuading skeptics.
Why it matters: The filmmakers' decision to self-distribute and roll out the film ahead of the midterms signals that the project's primary goal is mobilization, not conversion — meaning its success should be measured by turnout and engagement among progressive audiences rather than by critical or commercial reception, as the reviewer itself acknowledges by deferring a final verdict to election outcomes.
