Watch 1971

1971 is a riveting documentary film released in 2014. The film chronicles the daring and little-known actions of eight ordinary citizens who took down the government unit responsible for massive surveillance and spying on US citizens during the Vietnam War period. The story of 1971 starts in a pre-9/11 world, where a wealthy donor secretly funded the Citizens' Commission to Investigate the FBI, a group of anti-war activists who coordinated an intricate plot to break into a small FBI field office in Pennsylvania to uncover evidence of illegal FBI tactics. The film is based on interviews with five of the members of the Commission who remained unknown for over 40 years until they revealed their identities to a journalist.

The plot of the film follows the anonymous political activists as they carefully plan and execute their break-in into the FBI offices in Media, Pennsylvania. The group had no experience in burglarizing a government building, and they meticulously planned and prepared for the event. They began their operations months before the break-in, by conducting extensive research about the facility and developing a plan for how to get in and out without being detected. They also had to learn how to pick locks and disable alarms, which they did by practicing their newly acquired skills in their own homes.

The group's persistence paid off when they were finally able to infiltrate the FBI offices and steal all the files they could find from multiple drafting cabinets. The stolen documents unveiled several illegal FBI activities, including a counterintelligence program (COINTELPRO) that monitored and harassed anti-war and social justice activists, wiretapping documents and burglary instructions, and the FBI's false claims about the accidental killing of an anti-war activist.

The fallout of the break-in was immense. The FBI launched a massive manhunt to apprehend the perpetrators, and the eight activists feared for their lives. They went into hiding, and their lives were never the same. Their whistleblower actions pushed the government to investigate the illegal surveillance and spying of the FBI and led to the end of the COINTELPRO program, changing the course of U.S. political history.

1971, told through in-depth interviews and dramatic reenactments, was directed by Johanna Hamilton, and it offers a compelling look at political activism, government surveillance, and the consequences of acting against power. The story is skillfully told and skillfully executed, with Bonnie Raines, John Raines, Bob Williamson, and other members of the Citizens' Commission providing the film's heart and soul.

The film is incredibly engaging, with fast-paced suspense, smooth storytelling, and plenty of relevant questions to think about. For instance, one question that the film brings up is whether the line between civil disobedience and criminal activity is always crystal clear or if the two blur in cases like these. Additionally, the film raises important questions about civic engagement and the costs of risking everything for a greater cause.

In conclusion, 1971 is an excellent documentary film that provides viewers with a front-row seat to one of the most critical whistleblowing events in U.S. history. The film is well-crafted and expertly executed, with smooth storytelling and captivating characters. It expertly unravels the events of the break-in and shines a light on an authentic grassroots movement that ultimately had a significant impact on US politics.

1971 is a 2015 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 20 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 73.