Review of The Weather Underground (2002) by Phoebe S — 14 Mar 2004

War that nobody really wants and a president who won't listen. Sound slightly familiar? But the documentary I saw was about Vietnam, not Iraq.

[i]The Weather Underground[/i] details the events surrounding a group of college age kids who wanted to change the world. A break-off group of the SDS, students for a democratic society, they felt that their tactics for bringing about political revolution had been far too peaceful.

In brief, they decided to bomb buildings that represented the U.S. government; but after a mishap at one of their headquarters that killed three weathermen, they also decided that the bombings should not kill anyone. Miraculously, they bombed several buildings (including the Capitol building) without taking the life of a single person.

So then they all went to jail, right? Nope! Many of them didn't even get in serious trouble after the evidence the FBI produced against them was found to have been procured illegally.

The film was rightly nominated for Best Documentary Film. I thought it was excellent. While it was a tad rough feeling, the wealth of information and interviews prevailed over my need for a little Hollywood flash.

As I was filled in on the details of this revolutionist group of young people, I slowly began to feel totally ignorant of passed events. I'd never even heard of the Weathermen--only that there was a lot of protest in the 60s and 70s over the Vietnam war. And though the movie never clearly sides with the violent response of the Weathermen to the war, I felt I identified at least with their frustration. What can people of my generation do with a deaf ear turned our way?

I [i]strongly[/i] suggest this movie to anyone who's still feeling like they can simply sit back and let the government run itself. And to anyone who might have hippie parents like myself, this movie will help you understand the 60s, 70s, and them a bit better. ;).