from January 21, 2003



Screen icon Robert Redford has spoken out against a possible invasion of Iraq, calling on independent filmmakers to help prevent what he called the erosion of freedom of speech.
Speaking at the Sundance Film Festival, which he founded, he said the White House had "some explaining to do" to the American people before embarking on a war.

Warning that there were "threats around the edges" of United States freedom of expression, Redford said independent movies could help keep alternative artistic and political views alive.

Independent films "might carry a lot of weight in terms of how a government behaves, what information they are allowing out and what their attitude is about freedom of expression," he said.

"One of the virtues of independent films is not only that they needn't be burdened by commercial dogma, but that they shouldn't be hindered in expressing different points of view.

"Freedom of expression is our most precious virtue," he said. "We have to be on our guard not to be careless with it."

The star of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All The President's Men said he could not ignore politics with anti-war protests flaring across the US.

"There is clearly a rising swell demanding answers to something so consequential," he said.