We are amidst “award’s Season” for Cinema and TV at the moment. It’s been a terribly difficult year for Cinema with Covid-19 closing cinemas around the globe. However, 2 years ago, the Academy Awards allowed none studio films to be eligible for Oscars, and all awards bodies followed suit. This means that films made for direct to streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ are allowed to be put up for awards. This has helped since many of us have been able to see, enjoy and appreciate new films that haven’t been shown at cinemas. I feel that I have still seen some of the best of cinema without leaving my own home. (A disclaimer here: I really miss going to the cinema, it’s one of my favorite activities, and whilst I’m enjoying these films on Netflix, I wish I could have seen them at the cinema).
Last night Candace and I watched “The Trial of the Chicago 7” a film about those charged, by the American Government, of inciting a riot during the Democratic Convention prior to the Presidential Election in 1968. Several anti Vietnam War bodies had descended on Chicago to try and encourage the Democratic Party to put ending that conflict at the centre of their election policy. Partly incited by the police, and their brutal treatment of protesters, partly fueled by hot headed comments this lead to a violent riot and the arrest of many. When Nixon’s Republican Presidency started there was a desire prosecute and “shut up” those anti-war voices. This film is about the politically motivated show trial. It must have been a script Hollywood felt was important for it’s similarities with last year’s Trump led shenanigans which policiticised the police, the legal system and put the US in the brink of complete meltdown. I say this because the cast is “stella” – many A-list actors are involved.
Amongst them, ironicaly, are 3 British actors, 2 – Eddy Redmayne & Mark Rylance have already one Oscars in their careers. The 3rd is Sacha Baron Cohen, best known for his comic turns as Ali G, Borat and as one of the brothers in the film “Grimsby”. Here he plays Abby Hoffman, the anti-war campaigner. And whilst Abbie Hoffman often “goofed” it up at the trial this is a serious, studied and articulate role. Baron Cohen won a Golden Globe for his performance in this film on Sunday…more awards may well follow.
The film may well be a sad indictment of the politicisation of the legal system and the police in the US but it also speaks into our situation here. We must hold those in power to account for their actions, we can’t let them get away with blatant lies, with immoral support of mass genocide in the Yemen, with breaking international law or with ignoring the general population & treating them like idiots (“let’s clap for our brilliant NHS but give them a pay rise that actually is akin to a pay cut”). We need to be aware that we may, ourselves only be a step away from show trials, from a politicised legal system and our police force being put in an intolerable situation where they have to decided what is right. Award’s Season often celebrates “fluffy” escapism – this year it’s the turn of gritty realism – a sign of the times.
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