I haven't read the novel this film was based on. But I understand it had myriad plot lines snaking throughout the narrative. The director, Milos Forman, apparently chose the Coalhouse Walker story line to hang this movie on. It is about racial injustice, and a revolutionary response to it. OK, I understand that racial injustice is a big part of the American story. I'm not saying that it should be swept under the rug, or that the story shouldn't be told. But if I need to be preached at about racial injustice, I could just go rent a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird. Aside from this, the film is well done, with excellent acting, good photography, high-quality production values. I guess there was only so much screen time available, but some of the other plot lines got seriously short shrift here, and I think the movie suffers for it.
