Chicago 10

In 1968, with Vietnam in full swing and Lyndon Johnson sending more conscripted troops to the increasingly unpopular conflict, a group of radicals and hippies envisioned a peace march to coincide with the Democrat’s political rally.

This resulted in a showdown between the forces of Government and 15,000 protesters in the second city of the US.

What makes the clash particularly severe is the extreme prejudice from the older generation against the ‘counterculture’ of the radicals - the "long-haired-pinko-faggots" - so detested by the establishment.

It is no coincidence that such a film has been released in the face of a similar conflict and obstinate Government in relation to the conflict in Iraq.

Has Brett Morgen made the definitive call to arms for the youth of today to rise up and question authority?

The parallels are there, but we seem to be missing the orators who could mobilise a disgruntled public, who, if truth be told, are not that disgruntled in the first place.

By the use of dashing visual animation (similar to Richard Linklater’s animated efforts), dynamic editing and a bombastic soundtrack featuring covers of the likes of Black Sabbath, Morgen attempts to incite the audience.

Watching the movie I understand the rage, the desire to do something, am amused by the antics of protester Abbie Hoffman and his peers and ultimately depressed that very few are motivated enough to change anything these days, except complain about the price of petrol... and that includes me.