Film Comment:
Growing Up in America
They were all - each in their own way and some so more than others - visionaries, poets, prophets, philosophers, fighters, gurus, radicals and oddballs. And all of them played an important role in the American political youth movement. Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, John Sinclair, Fred Hampton, Allan Ginsberg, Timothy Leary, William Kunstler, John Cox and Deborah Russell were heroes of a counterculture that exerts influence on society to this day. The withdrawal from the Vietnam War was due in part to to the movement's anti-war efforts, and it is nearly impossible to imagine America electing a black president without the civil rights activists (including the Black Panthers)who fought for civil liberties and equal rights in the 1960's.
Director Morley Markson interviews political and consciousness-raising activists 20 years down the road from their media-friendly revolt, and challenges them to address the documentary footage of their public appearances. They reminisce about their activities in the 1960's and compare what they were doing then with their current lives, shedding light on the intervening two decades. A novel and interesting approach to portraying an epoch.
Credits
Original Title: Growing Up in America
Language:
English original version
Country of Origin: USA/Canada
Year : 1988
Duration: 90 Min.
Color
Director: Morley Markson
Script: Morley Markson
Camera: Morley Markson
Editing: Morley Markson
Sound: Tom Burger, Anthony Hall, James Plaxton
Starring/Featuring: Don Cox, Allen Ginsberg, Fred Hampton, Fred Hampton, Jr., Abbie Hoffman, Deborah Johnston, William Kunstler, Timothy Leary, Jerry Rubin, Deborah Russell, John Sinclair
Production: Don Haig, Morley Markson
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About the Film
Abbie Hoffman was one of the founders of the Yippies (Youth International Party), he was also one of the infamous “Chicago Seven” who were charged with conspiracy and inciting to riot (among other things) in connection with anti-war protests at the Democratic National Convention. He wrote the cult book, “Steal This Book”. Hoffman took his own life in the late 1980's.
Jerry Rubin was also a member of the “Chicago Seven”. He wrote the book “DO IT!: Scenarios of the Revolution”. He became an entrepreneur in the 1980'S. He died after being run over by a car in 1994.
William Kunstler was a committed civil rights activist who first became famous as the “Chicago Seven's” lawyer. He remained true to his ideals of freedom and was an anti-death penalty activist.
Fred Hampton was a Black Panther activist. He was shot to death by the Chicago police during a house search.
Allen Ginsberg was the poet of the Beat Generation. He made his homosexuality public at a time when homosexuality was still punishable by law.
Timothy Leary was famous as a prophet of consciousness raising drugs like LSD. When diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer in 1995, Leary made his dying and dealing with what might come after public. Leary's death in 1996 was videotaped upon his request.
YIPPIE prankster-activist Abbie Hoffman in action
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