Review of Punishment Park (1971) by Michael D — 03 Feb 2008
Astonishing movie - technically perfect fake-documentary that reflects the troubled time and place of its creation better than any other film I have seen from the Vietnam era.
Mostly improvised with hippies playing hippies and conservatives playing conservatives - the central premise is the only thing that lacks credibility but frankly, it doesn't really matter, this is a masterpiece of editing, performance and content.
On release it was shown in one cinema, received zero distribution due to its controversial subject matter and vanished for nigh-on 35 years. Watching it now it still provokes politically and the overall execution is brilliantly precise.
One of the finest American movies of the 70's - this will probablly in time be regarded along with Pontecorvo's 'Battle of Algiers' and Eisenstein's 'Battleship Potemkin' as one of the most important political movies ever made.
This review of Punishment Park (1971) was written by Michael D on 03 Feb 2008.
Punishment Park has generally received very positive reviews.
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