The Good, The Bad and The Critic

Established on March 19th, 2012 and pioneered by film fanatic Michael J. Carlisle. The Good, The Bad and The Critic will analyze classic and contemporary films from all corners of the globe. This title references Sergei Leone's influential spaghetti western The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.

Friday, September 10, 2021

TIFF 2021 #1: Attica

Title: Attica
Year: 2021
Director: Stanley Nelson
Country: US
Language: English



I have been "going' to TIFF since 2019 ("going" in quotes because the last two years have been online) and each year I find myself excited for the films being presented. 2021 will be the first year I watch a documentary "at" the festival; Attica is the first of 3. The other two being Becoming Cousteau & Flee. Attica was the first film I watched at TIFF 2021.

Stanley Nelson's Attica is about the largest prison uprising in US history. Between Sept 9th & Sept 13th, 1975 more than 1,200 Attica inmates took control of the D-Yard at the prison and held 42 officers and prison employees hostage. Over four days, they engaged with New York politicians in attempts to negotiate for their freedom.

I decided to watch this movie solely on a movie quote that I vaguely remember. A character (turns out it's Al Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon) shouts "Attica! Attica! Attica!". What IS Attica!?  The documentary by Nelson gives us the typical talking head narrative we expect from documentaries, interspersed with archival news footage, to give a somewhat comprehensible, somewhat chaotic interpretation of events surrounding a highly volatile situation. Nelson's storytelling has many gaps and a few inconsistencies, albeit considering the event was 50 years ago it's somewhat understandable.

It is remarkable that Nelson was able to attain so many figures that were critical to the event. A few of the former prisoners must be in their seventies! I appreciate that he gave the loudest voice to the underrepresented prisoners. Attica, for its inconsistencies, does highlight corruption in the US Prison system, as well analyze racial disparity in the country. It is an important film that ought to get at least one viewing.  

No comments:

Post a Comment