Growing Up in America

Whatever happened to the political malcontents of the 1960s? In Morley Markson's timely update the decade's most notorious radicals, now older and (in some cases) wiser, reflect back over the intervening years to the conflicts they created (and which in turn created them). Markson makes his admiration obvious but never places anyone on a pedestal, choosing instead to simply compare the ideals of yesterday with the compromises of today, using dramatic side-by-side footage of each individual and letting the audience draw its own conclusions. A few portraits show evidence of judicious editing to put the subject in a kinder light, but each story illustrates to a different degree the struggle with changing times, and the fadeout on a lonely but optimistic Abbie Hoffman has a special poignancy in light of his subsequent death by suicide. As Yippie-turned-Yuppie Jerry Rubin said, with pointed sarcasm, back in 1968: "We know what growing up in America means!" But only after twenty years (and more) of hindsight could the knowledge be properly put into perspective.

Interesting movie which shows vintage footage of various radicals, mostly associated with the Chicago Eight, then cuts to modern-day interviews. It is humorous and interesting to see the reactions of some middle-aged radicals watching themselves as they thought and spoke 30 years earlier. Some have changed their minds and lifestyles, others haven't.

Interviewees include Jerry Rubin, Abbie Hoffman, William Kunstler, Allen Ginsberg, Timothy Leary, Don Cox, Fred Hampton Jr. and his mother.

In what should be required viewing for all potential student leaders, with leftist, liberal progressive, fascist tendencies, this film has the beginning and end of such rebellions.

I caught this in the early 90's. I was never a fan of that 60's BS, and to see burnouts like Hoffman, O'Leary, & Ginsberg commenting upon themselves was marvellous.

They got old. And they grew up.

They looked back upon themselves as anyone would to a bunch of juvenile whelps in their early 20's.

One guy, was literally laughing his face off.

Not to be missed, considering the times we live in, if you're at all interested in the history of the sucky-baby, fascist, leftist liberal progressives.

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