Movie Review: The Trial of the Chicago 7 pt. 3

This is also the reason why ‘contempt of court’ is emphasized throughout. It shows that the government only cares about, and points out, the wrongs of contempt from the people to the court, even when the contempt of the government to the citizens is a bigger problem.

Tom Hayden and Abbie Hoffman are two people who seem to have opposite beliefs, which was why they constantly fought. Tom Hayden, believing in rational revolutions, and Abbie Hoffman, believing in cultural ones. Tom Hayden, respecting everyone, even the people who disrespect others, and acting politely in court. Abbie Hoffman, knowing that during a revolution, ‘you might have to hurt someone’s feelings’, and showing disobedience to a wrongful, political trial. But in the end, it is discovered that the two are just headed toward the same goal, just with different ways of achieving it. Although they both didn’t believe the other, they had the same answer to the same question.

“Why did you come to the convention?”

“To end the war.”

This shows that all people, no matter how diverse, no matter how different their methods are, want one thing in common. Peace. Justice. To be respected. To be heard and seen.

I also believe that this is connected to the final scene. Tom Hayden disobeys the judge’s orders for final words, and states all of the names of the soldiers whose lives were lost due to the Vietnam War, the war they were trying so hard to stop. Because, all of those people needed to be respected, their names heard, and because they couldn’t be summarized into a simple number of casualties. And because it couldn’t be ‘brief’, as Judge Julius Hoffman wanted. Because as citizens of the United States of America, they mattered.

Of course, some critics say that it’s somewhat a ‘messy’ film. And that it’s historically inaccurate. But I mostly saw the good parts of this film. And despite all of that, I believe Aaron Sorkin got the message through loud and clear to all of us. And because history repeats itself, I believe this is truly a crucial film.

Yes, it might not be an accurate term to say that a certain movie is ‘my favorite’, for movies are all good or bad in different ways. But, looking at the fact that after seeing this movie, everything else suddenly seems bland and low-quality. Yes, I dare to say that this is so far one of my favorite movies.