The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
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A group of anti-Vietnam War protesters face a high-stakes legal battle following the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
The story
In the aftermath of the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, a group of anti-Vietnam War protesters known as the Chicago Seven are arrested and charged with conspiracy and crossing state lines with the intent of inciting riots. The film follows their legal battle as they face a prejudiced judge and a determined prosecution. Amidst the tension of the courtroom, the defendants must navigate the complexities of their own convictions and the political climate of the era, while the legal proceedings become a battleground for the rights of protesters and the integrity of the judicial system.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In August 1968, activists including Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin prepare to protest at the Democratic National Convention. Five months later, they are arrested and charged with conspiracy. The trial unfolds before Judge Julius Hoffman, who displays significant prejudice. The defense is led by William Kunstler and Leonard Weinglass, while the prosecution is led by Tom Foran and Richard Schultz. During the proceedings, several events occur: Bobby Seale is gagged and chained after a dispute, and various defendants are confronted by the court's hostility. The prosecution presents evidence of police and FBI involvement. A pivotal moment occurs when Tom Hayden, during his closing remarks, ignores the judge's objections to list the names of thousands of soldiers killed in the Vietnam War, prompting the court to stand in respect. The film portrays the intense atmosphere of the 1960s and the specific legal maneuvers used by both sides.
- First release year
- 2020
- Runtime (minutes)
- 130
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Aaron Sorkin
- Writers
- Aaron Sorkin · writer
- Cast and characters
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II; Sacha Baron Cohen; Daniel Flaherty; Joseph Gordon-Levitt; Michael Keaton; Frank Langella; John Carroll Lynch; Eddie Redmayne; Noah Robbins; Mark Rylance; Alex Sharp; Jeremy Strong
- Genres
- historical legal drama; drama
- Themes
- Civil rights; Government overreach; Anti-war movement; Judicial integrity
- Tone and mood
- tense; dramatic
- Premise and plot tags
- courtroom drama; historical fiction; political drama
- Source material / true-story basis
- The trial of the Chicago 7
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances, the screenplay, the cinematography, the editing, and the modern parallels to the 1960s.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 76 · scale: 100 · review count: 49
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Supporting Actor · 93rd Academy Awards · nomination; Academy Award · Best Picture · 93rd Academy Awards · nomination; Academy Award · Best Original Screenplay · 93rd Academy Awards · nomination; Golden Globe Award · Best Screenplay · win
- Production trivia
- Sorkin wrote the screenplay in 2007 with the intent of Steven Spielberg directing.; The film was originally planned for a theatrical release by Paramount Pictures.; The soundtrack features three original songs performed by British singer Celeste.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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