1971 (2014 film)

1971 is a 2014 American documentary film and the directorial debut of producer Johanna Hamilton, who also cowrote the film. The film had its world premiere onApril 2014 at the Tribeca Film Festival and focuses on the breakin of an FBI office in Media, Pennsylvania in 1971.

The film focuses on the events of March 8, 1971, when eight people broke into an FBI office in Media, Pennsylvania. The group, all of whom were ordinary citizens, called themselves the Citizens Commission to Investigate the FBI and stole every file in the office. The content in the stolen files ranged from training manuals to information about organized crime and draft resistance. Over time the group mailed the files to various newsrooms. One of the more significant elements in the stolen materials were files relating to COINTELPRO, a secret surveillance program that was run by J. Edgar Hoover.Critical reception for 1971 has been positive. Washingtonian and Variety both praised the work, which the Washingtonian described as a compelling documentary that provides a powerful perspective on the current debate about the men and women who risk everything to disclose government secrets. Indiewire also gave a favorable review, praising Hamiltons directing and stated Her film is not celebratory, lingering on the notion that, with the public charade of COINTELPRO, ultimately the FBI won. While their postbreakin behaviors are mocked, the government credits itself with tactics specifically utilized to enhance the paranoia, creating a culture of fear that still exists today. ........

Source: Wikipedia