A free screening of the groundbreaking animated documentary “CHICAGO 10″ will be presented on Saturday September 27th at the Chicago Cultural Center’s Claudia Cassidy Theatre (78 E. Washington St.) at 2PM. A discussion featuring the filmmakers will conclude the event. A simple RSVP is mandatory and available online here.
A press release with more details follows, sent to us by ITVS Regional Outreach Coordinator (and Viva Doc friend) Naomi Walker:
CHICAGO 10
(95 minutes)
Saturday September 27, 2008 2:00 pmChicago Cultural Center
78 E. Washington St.
Claudia Cassidy TheatreSynopsis
Written and directed by Brett Morgen, CHICAGO 10 presents contemporary history with a forced perspective, mixing bold and original animation with extraordinary archival footage that explores the build-up to and unraveling of the Chicago Conspiracy Trial.At the 1968 Democratic Convention, protestors, denied permits for demonstrations, repeatedly clashed with the Chicago Police Department, who waged a week-long terror campaign that resulted in riots witnessed live by a television audience of over 50 million. The events had a polarizing effect on the country.
Needing to find a scapegoat for the riots, the Government held eight of the most vocal activists accountable for the violence and brought them to trial a year later. The defendants represented a broad cross-section of the anti-war movement, from counter-culture icons Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin to renowned pacifist David Dellinger. Seven of the defendants were represented by Leonard Weinglass and famed liberal attorney William Kunstler, who went head-to-head with prosecution attorney Thomas Foran. The eighth defendant, Bobby Seale, co-chair of the Black Panther Party, insisted on defending himself and was bound, gagged and handcuffed to his chair by Judge Julius Hoffman. From the start, the trial was a circus with the eight defendants on a collision course with the governmental authority.
Eschewing talking-head interviews and omniscient narration, CHICAGO 10 allows the viewer to experience the drama and tragedy of Chicago in a unique and dynamic style. The film moves back and forth from the streets of Chicago to the courtroom at an exciting and accelerating pace that brings the past into the present. Ultimately, CHICAGO 10 is more than a historical drama; it is a new style of documentary with a visceral and emotional core.
Discussion: WHO’S LENS IS IT? REFLECTING ’68
After the film, there will be a discussion with the audience examining the subjective role the filmmaker plays when documenting history. How does the perspective differ when looking through the eyes of race, gender, political persuasion and across generations?The discussion will feature:
Kevin Gosztola, Student, Filmmaker, Activist
Sam Greenlee, Author, Film producer
Judy Hoffman, Filmmaker
Tracye Matthews, Associate Director, Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture (Moderator)