Decent documentary recalls the exploits of the Weathermen, a radical anti-war organization that operated in the United States during the 1960s and '70s. We see how this small group hid bombs in public buildings (though never with the intent of killing), planned for a revolution and eventually went underground to avoid the FBI -- all with the aim of ending the Vietnam war and overthrowing the federal government.
"The Weather Underground" is as much a retrospect as it is a character study. Lots of people oppose war, but what motivates a tiny faction to take such extreme action? This is a cautionary tale of sorts, warning of the dangers of what happens when one side believes it has "right" on their side. The Weathermen so strongly believed in their cause, and that some magical revolution was on the way to change everything, that they come off as kind of pathetic and sad.
Something this doc could have used a bit more of was balance. There are voices in the film that essentially say, "You did what???", but not nearly enough considering just how extreme the Weathermen were. Still, it's an enjoyable effort whether you're old enough to remember this group or not.
"The Weather Underground" is as much a retrospect as it is a character study. Lots of people oppose war, but what motivates a tiny faction to take such extreme action? This is a cautionary tale of sorts, warning of the dangers of what happens when one side believes it has "right" on their side. The Weathermen so strongly believed in their cause, and that some magical revolution was on the way to change everything, that they come off as kind of pathetic and sad.
Something this doc could have used a bit more of was balance. There are voices in the film that essentially say, "You did what???", but not nearly enough considering just how extreme the Weathermen were. Still, it's an enjoyable effort whether you're old enough to remember this group or not.