Documentaries review - 1971 by Johanna Hamilton

Sometimes some people just get mad as hell, and will simply not take it anymore. Johanna Hamilton, for the very first time, reveals details and uncovers the behind the scenes truth of how eight ordinary citizens made the FBI shake in their leather boots in her documentary 1971, presented at the 59th Cork Film Festival.
 
The introduction of the film takes us right into the lead up to the events of the titular year of 1971. A particularly interesting time in American culture, spurred on by such events as the Vietnam war, the assassinations of Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King and the overall awakening of a whole generations that just wouldn't abide to the fifties age of consesus anymore. But to take on the FBI was still something that had somewhat of an artistic appeal to it and seemed like quite a vision. Nevertheless, this was a time when the afore mentioned awakening and the dissatisfaction with the way things were going in the States was simply reaching boiling point - something seemed to have to be done and something was done.

 

That is when eight ordinary American citizens, led by the charismatic figure of a passionate political activist named Bill, drew up a plan to break into the FBI agency in Media, PA. The ends justifying the means was to surveil the surveillors who, led by the controversial iron fist of J. Edgar Hoover, seemed to be getting more and more powerful as well as self righteous. Filmmaker Johanna Hamilton tells this story by talking to the people who were directly involved in the 'heist', and this being a true story, it is also a pricelessly insightful Rififi take on the break in, but also a clear evaluation and human examination of their own lives and their dedication to the cause.
 
The pacing in the documentary is infectuously thrilling. The technique employed is one we have becomed accustomed to seeing in numerous documentaries where the approach resembles closely a fictional narrative one. But often, this very same approach has proved to be insensitive to the subject and the themes to honour its prime goal of entertaining its audience - thus losing depth behind ambition. This, does not happen in 1971, a film so tasteful and fiery as well as happily one sided that it feels refreshing, alarming and even inspiring.
 
Moreover, Hamilton's film feels refreshingly modern. The theme of social rebellion connects it to these times of WikiLeaks and Occupy Movements. Further delight can be found in the fact that this documentary is also simoultaneously comfortable in representing its titular year and capture its atmosphere not only through archive footage, but also through a refined emphasis on the fashion, style, music of the times and also pop references to the events that were taking place in the days of the Media, PA events. Despite its subject being important and of course focused, this is also a more general celebration of the people who dare to recreate the David vs. Goliath storyline in real life and in real socio political times, but also a celebration of the working class heroes that fight the injustice against the power thirsty, wealthier and oppressive one when they step over the line of moral boundaries.

1971 Directed by Johanna Hamilton. (79' & 1HR coming) Exec Producer Laura Poitras. Produced by Marilyn Ness. from Cargo Film & Releasing on Vimeo.