227: Why We Fight . If you are able, we strongly encourage you to listen to the audio, which includes emotion and emphasis that's not on the page. Today's program, Why We Fight, stories trying to understand the coming war with Iraq, or should I say, the likely war with Iraq? It's not true in France and Germany. The name of the series was "Why We Fight" and director Eugene Jarecki has taken the same name for his documentary about the massive expansion of the U.S. arms … Note: This American Life is produced for the ear and designed to be heard. These notes accompany the screenings of Frank Capra’s Why We Fight WWII propaganda films on June 8, 9, and 10 in Theater 3. . That isn't true in Canada. _Why We Fight . Overview. Transcript. "Prelude to War," Chapter I of Frank Capra's "Why We Fight" series, describes World War II as a battle between the "slave world" of fascism and the "free world" of American liberty. Writer-Director Eugene Jerecki's first-rate documentary won recognition at the Sundance Film Festival last year, but you'll still have to hunt hard, if you want to see it. Speech by Vito Russo. WHY WE FIGHT Film Description ‘Why We Fight,” the new film by Eugene Jarecki which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, is an unflinching look at the anatomy of the American war machine, weaving unforgettable personal stories with commentary by a “who’s who” of military and beltway insiders. It's even more audacious to have that film present conclusions about our current war that are far less boosterish than those Capra reached. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. We've arrived at Act Three of our program. Shortly after the United States entered World War II, the U.S. government commissioned Frank Capra to create a series of films to convince American troops of the righteousness of the war. Titling a documentary Why We Fight is audacious—the name comes from a series of Frank Capra films made to justify U.S. involvement in World War II. KWIATKOWSKI: The Frank Capra films, even back then, were propaganda to kind of build up a war fever. WHY WE FIGHT Film Description ‘Why We Fight,” the new film by Eugene Jarecki which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, is an unflinching look at the anatomy of the American war machine, weaving unforgettable personal stories with commentary by a “who’s who” of military and beltway insiders. By Jim Castagnera Special to The History Place 3/26/06. Charts and animations are used to graphically depict Nazi battle tactics and the progression of the invasion.