Rory Kennedy
Rory Kennedy
================
Full Name and Common Aliases
------------------------------
Rory Kennedy is an American filmmaker and documentarian. She is the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel Kennedy.
Birth and Death Dates
-------------------------
Rory Kennedy was born on December 12, 1968.
Nationality and Profession(s)
--------------------------------
Nationality: American
Profession(s): Filmmaker, Documentarian
Early Life and Background
-----------------------------
Rory Kennedy was born to Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel Kennedy on December 12, 1968. She is the eighth of eleven children in a prominent Irish-American Catholic family. Her father, Robert F. Kennedy, was an American politician who served as U.S. Senator from New York and U.S. Attorney General under President John F. Kennedy.
Growing up, Rory Kennedy was exposed to social justice issues through her family's involvement in various charitable organizations and causes. She attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst before transferring to George Washington University, where she graduated with a degree in international relations.
Major Accomplishments
---------------------------
Rory Kennedy has directed several documentaries that have received critical acclaim for their thought-provoking storytelling and poignant exploration of complex social issues.
Some of her notable works include:
_A Candle in the Dark_ (1993): A documentary about the experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS.
_War Photographer_ (2001): A film that explores the life of a war photographer, Sebastião Salgado, and his experiences documenting conflict zones around the world.
_Ghosts of Abu Ghraib_ (2007): A documentary examining the treatment of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison during the Iraq War.Notable Works or Actions
-----------------------------
Rory Kennedy has been recognized for her contributions to filmmaking and social justice. Some notable works include:
Awards: She received an Emmy nomination for _Ghosts of Abu Ghraib_.
* Documentaries: Her documentaries have been broadcast on PBS, HBO, and other prominent networks.
Impact and Legacy
-------------------------
Rory Kennedy's work has had a significant impact on the way people understand complex social issues. By shedding light on sensitive topics through her films, she has inspired empathy and sparked important conversations about human rights and dignity.
Her dedication to filmmaking as a tool for storytelling and social change has also paved the way for future generations of documentarians.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
--------------------------------------------
Rory Kennedy is widely quoted and remembered for her tireless efforts to amplify marginalized voices through her documentary work. Her films have inspired countless people around the world, raising awareness about critical issues such as HIV/AIDS, war photography, and human rights abuses.
Her commitment to using storytelling as a means of promoting empathy and understanding has made her an influential figure in the world of social justice activism.
Quotes by Rory Kennedy
I'm not sure I would make a direct connection between having press attention as a young person and being interested in the media as an older person. I came to it more organically, coming from a family of Irish Catholic storytellers. Storytelling is a pastime and important part of my family's history and culture.
The thing is that my father's story helps to communicate what was at stake with my mother, and my mother and father had so much a partnership that his story is integral to her story, as her story is to his - really, her story can't be told without his story.
They gave us 30 different dates to choose from. Homestead was the one I chose, in part because I think it's hard to tell the story of America without telling the story of the people who built it.
You need to think, when you get involved in wars, how you're going to get out of them.
I've always been interested in Vietnam, feel it's a seminal event in our nation's history, and have explored it over the years - but I hadn't been interested in doing a documentary about it. I felt there had been a lot done about Vietnam, and didn't know if I could add anything new to the discussion.
The thing that was most eye-opening to me, in my research, was the idea that the workers felt that they had a claim to the mill. That mentality is so far from how labor is treated today. I think it's very clear that you work for the corporation -- you don't have any claim to it.
I've been doing documentaries for about 25 years and want to continue to do that, but I love the idea of working in a different medium. Advertising pushes the envelope creatively, and there is some really great work being done right now, so I'm excited to jump into it.
There's a great op-ed piece by Kurt Johnson, who runs The List Project, that I recommend everyone read. He was talking about how he's been trying to get out of Iraq who were our allies, who are now subject to torture, and their families are being killed because of their alliance to the United States.
I think there is a lot to be said for the respect that our parents had for children, and for my brothers and sisters and me at a very young age, and for exposing them to the world and what's out there.