This opens with a police walk-thru of the Fred Hampton killing during the deadly police raid. Hampton is the leader of the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party. This follows him and other local revolutionary voices during the months before the incident. Afterwards, the group performs a mock trial. For the last half hour, the police do a reenactment presented by State's Attorney Edward Hanrahan. Hampton supporters are able to refute many declarations with actual physical evidence from the site.
While I understand the need to listen to all the talking heads especially Fred Hampton, those are not the most compelling cinematically. It is able to paint a picture of the tumultuous times. This documentary really sings with the last half hour as the government presents its case which is dismantled bit by bit by the pro-Panther crowd. I would like a detailed minute-by-minute description of the incident. Nowadays they would do a computer reenactment, but I would have liked an reenactment from the opposition of the raid. Nevertheless, that back and forth is really compelling.
While I understand the need to listen to all the talking heads especially Fred Hampton, those are not the most compelling cinematically. It is able to paint a picture of the tumultuous times. This documentary really sings with the last half hour as the government presents its case which is dismantled bit by bit by the pro-Panther crowd. I would like a detailed minute-by-minute description of the incident. Nowadays they would do a computer reenactment, but I would have liked an reenactment from the opposition of the raid. Nevertheless, that back and forth is really compelling.