Blue Eyed

The documentary records a workshop run with a group of forty people in Kansas City. Those taking part are teachers, police, school administrators and social workers; black, Hispanic and white, women and men. Jane Elliott separates out the blue eyed members and gives them pseudo scientific explanations of their inferiority. She sets them culturally biased intelligence tests and builds open discrimination into the room. Within hours grown professionals fall apart and stumble over the simplest instructions. The film’s case is that discrimination is learned and that it works this fast. The method itself is harsh and the film does not hide that. Bertram Verhaag’s ninety minute documentary, a joint German and American production, was completed in 1996.