Revolution OS (2001)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

J.T.S. Moore

Writer:

J.T.S. Moore (written by)

Release Date:

15 February 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Comedy

Tagline:

Hackers, Programmers & Rebels UNITE!

Plot Keywords:

Computer Cracker | Microsoft | Open Source Software | Linux | GNU Software

Cast

Linus Torvalds	...	Himself
Richard M. Stallman	...	Himself
Eric Raymond	...	Himself
Bruce Perens	...	Himself
Larry Augustin	...	Himself
Michael Tiemann	...	Himself
Brian Behlendorf	...	Himself
Frank Hecker	...	Himself
Chris DiBona	...	Himself (Windows Refund Day Scene)
Nick Moffitt	...	Himself (Windows Refund Day Scene)
Rob Malda	...	Himself (On Inflatable Couch)
Donnie Barnes	...	Himself
Susan Egan	...	Narrator (voice)
Marc Merlin	...	Himself (Silicon Valley Linux Users' Group President)
Terry Egan	...	Himself

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Swedish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Baylands Park - 999 E. Caribbean Drive, Sunnyvale, California, USA

Company:

Wonderview Productions

Quotes:

[when awarded the Linus Torvalds Award]
Richard M. Stallman: So, very ironic things have happened, but nothing to match this. Giving the Linus Torvalds Award to the Free Software Foundation is sort of like giving the Han Solo Award to the rebel fleet.

Movie Connections:

References Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

Soundtrack:

The Free Software Song

I know nothing about computers (and if you don't either, this film is very interesting)

Given that I have no knowledge about computers nor how they operate, I found

this film very informative with some basic descriptions of the free software and open source movement (which have some ideological differences... not that I

had ever heard of either). The film recounts the historical evolution (and

subsequent "revolution") through a series of interviews of key players in the development of the Linux operating systems for computers. If you know nothing about computers, do not assume that you will find this film uninteresting. In fact, although dense with information, the narrative is straight forward and almost all the information is explained for the ignorant like myself.

There are some relatively small problems with the film, mainly near its

conclusion. The finale of the film does not address the disparity between the commercial aspects of open source in the 90's and the long-term growth of the philosophy and practical applications. I assume that the Linux OS and the idea of open source did not lose steam after the dot-com stock bubble burst. Given I don't work around computers, besides for internet research and writing, I must make that assumption. Yet the film implies, for those of us who are ignorant, that perhaps it was derailed by the economic problems. But given the stable

foundation of the idea that the film describes, I cannot imagine that commercial problems would have a long-term affect.

The film ultimately is a nicely constructed lesson for those of us out of the loop. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in watching documentaries or

learning interesting kernels about our world. In terms of emotional involvement, the way the director juxtaposes the interviewees creates interesting moments of humor (there seems to be a jockeying for credit happening within the community of programmers). Where the credit belongs and how people have used this

ideology (which it is according to one of the founders of GNU-- see the movie, it will all be explained) to launch practical business operations creates a nice tension. Of course, there are some mentions of Microsoft's relationship, which is adversarial, to the Linux OS that can help the laymen get emotionally involved in the story by means of creating a hero (the Open Source community) and a

villain (Microsoft). Of course the Microsoft way of business (proprietary rights) is never really given voice with the exception involving an over-dramatized

reading of argumentative letter written in the 70's by Bill Gates (given I am originally from Seattle and some of my friends work for the giant, it seems a little one-sided).

Again, if you have no knowledge of computers, do not avoid this film for that reason alone. If you are on this site, you have an interest in films. You can at least appreciate it as a nicely constructed documentary (although not excellent) that will illuminate a part of recent history.

A small note: although there are some mannerisms of the interviewees that can be regarded as stereotypical regarding computer enthusiasts, they are some of the more well-spoken interviewees I have seen in film in awhile.