The Weather Underground

2002
7.5| 1h32m| NA| en| More Info
Released: 17 November 2002 Released
Producted By: The Free History Project
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

The remarkable story of The Weather Underground, radical activists of the 1970s, and of radical politics at its best and most disastrous.

Genre

Documentary

Watch Online

The Weather Underground (2002) is now streaming with subscription on Prime Video

Director

Sam Green, Bill Siegel

Production Companies

The Free History Project

The Weather Underground Videos and Images

The Weather Underground Audience Reviews

NekoHomey Purely Joyful Movie!
Hulkeasexo it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.
Taraparain Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.
filippaberry84 I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.
MartinHafer Back in the late 1960s and through much of the 70s, a small group of terrorists who labeled themselves the Weather Underground (or, the Weathermen) resorted to very violent tactics in reaction to things such as the Vietnam War and racism. While they didn't kill anyone (other then themselves in one case), they blew up many things and even helped Timothy Leary break out of prison! Now, decades later, this film explores their actions and interviews the surviving participants."The Weather Underground" is an interesting film about about this terrorist group. What's also interesting is that the documentary is amazingly amoral--neither taking a pro or con sort of approach. This isn't bad--and it allows the participants themselves to make that determination--looking back at their movement and actions. Some were rather wistful--and seemed to now believe that they were completely wrong in using violence. Some excellent quotes from the ex-terrorists were the following: "...if you think you have the moral high-ground, that's a dangerous thing..." "...my feelings of guilt and shame...these things I am not proud of..." However, what was even more fascinating was the woman who disagreed, saying "...I would do it again..." This values-free approach, while disconcerting, is also quite revealing--and a bit scary. Well done and very fascinating. Worth a look.
Indyrod This outstanding Oscar nominated documentary is very informative about a period of American history, that most Americans don't know much about. A group of revolutionaries, calling themselves "The Weathermen", planned to overthrow the US government in the seventies because of the Viet Nam war. Archival footage and interviews with members of the group is fascinating to say the least. They were not terrorists and no one was killed by the actual Weathermen group. Around 1970 they went underground for 11 years being hunted constantly by the FBI, and conducted property and building bombings to protest acts of the US government. It all came to an end when the War ended, but their story is as amazing today and as it was then, in fact, their cause is just as important today because our government is repeating history with the ridiculous Iraq war. Two excellent commentaries, one with the co-director and the other with two of the leaders of the group are highly informative. I love historical documentaries, and this one is extremely well done.
salad_days-1 The Weather Underground is a great documentary because the people it follows have remarkable pasts. Mainstream media has been reluctant to shed any kind of light on American revolutionaries because if it did, the masses would realize that these so called "radicals" actually make a LOT of sense - and the status quo would be jeopardized (perhaps). Which is not to say The Weather Underground (and the Weathermen) didn't make tactical mistakes, because they did, and the filmmakers did not neglect to include some of the stupider aspects of their movement. The drugs and sex and early period of indiscriminate violence are included. Members of the Weathermen speak frankly about some of the mistakes, and it is interesting to see how their opinions have changed since the sixties and seventies. For the most part, though, the members of SDS and the Weathermen were/are very logical, passionate, and educated revolutionaries. Watching this documentary was kind of eye opening for me because apparently (I was born after the era...) revolution was viewed as imminent, people were aware and organized, ready to take action, and it was not so ridiculous to think that positive change could happen. At times the members of the Weather Underground seem a little bit confused and detached. Others, like David Gilbert, (you really should watch the interview with him in the 'features' section) are still very committed and sharp. Overall it's a fascinating and inspiring film, you should check it out.
BreanneB I thought that this movie was not only excellent but also very informative about a very tragic and horrific period of time in our country's history. This film shows the actual people that were involved in some way or another and clips of news reports and other real life things. Although, you don't see the infamous and high profile Weathermen Judith Clark and Kathy Boudin in the main film, you can hear Boudin talking in one of the extra features. Clark, was sentenced to 75 years to life for the deadly armored car heist that left 3 law enforcement officers dead, Boudin, received 20 years to life, and Boudin's Husband David Ritter received the same as Clark did. Although, Boudin, was paroled from prison in August 2003 and left in October, after serving 22 years. I personally think like many others that she should have gotten the exact same sentence as the other two. She only received leniency because her father was a big time lawyer. There should have been no special treatments at all for her.