Based on the transcripts from the trial featuring such notorious names as Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, and Bobby Seales, Chicago 10 documents, through animations and live footage, the protest of the 1968 Democratic Convention. The Convention was drama. The trial was comedy.

Believe it or not I watched this film three separate times trying to wrap my head around how I really feel about. Is it propaganda clearly made during war time to incite public support via mass opinion on the Vietnam War, or is it a genuine look at injustice meant to serve as a reminder? The film is left totally up to interpretation since there is no commentary of any kind on the disc, and depending on your tendency to sway in either direction, you’re going to see what you want to see.

In Junior High I was involved in a walk out. We anticipated the exact time on the clocks and then stood up from our desks silently and walked out of our classrooms and regrouped at the flag pole without uttering a single word. We had spread the word that this would be a demonstration protesting the Gulf War (1) so everyone knew, without us speaking a word, that this was our motivation. When I look back on that event in correlation to the events that take place in this film I am ultimately swayed by my bias towards the films narration. It’s not a fluid line which shows actions and consequences but rather a jumbled retelling of the 1968 protest mostly objectifying the authorities and using bands like Rage Against the Machine and Black Sabbath, obviously, with the intention of putting anti-authority thought into the viewers’ mindset, to provoke automatic sympathy. When all is said and done, yes we know the 60’s were turmoil of emotions and thoughts, but is this film remain relevant under its pretext?

Director Brett Morgan (The Kid Stays In The Picture) either fails or succeeds beyond anyone’s comprehension in delivering an adequate picture of the event. It’s hard to explain this accomplishment. On one hand the narration and flow of the film really puts on display how utterly idiotic the protest leaders were. For the most part you see them as silly drug using morons who find themselves in a position of power without the smarts to really utilize their position, and on the other hand, the use of police brutality is so ominous and the perception of unintelligence on the protesters part draws you to feel quite torn on whose side your really on. This would be my reason for viewing the film three times. I wanted to be able to deliver an honest unbiased opinion about the film. In the end I found it best not to take part in the choosing of sides but rather study the absolute need to separate yourself from the film and take the era, the individuals, the very heart of American fear during the time to come at the film openly. This is my only advice.

The film is entertaining enough to keep you interested and if you have a political mind or are into sociology you’re going to find this a Nirvana of discussion material. Not really a film for kids due to brief cartoon nudity and vulgar language but if you’ve got a teenager they could learn, with proper guidance, from this. Enjoy.

Special Features:

CHICAGO 10 Remix Video Contest Winner

Previews

DVD Specs:

Widescreen enhanced for 16x9 TV's

Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround

English subtitles