Watch Return of the Secaucus Seven

Return of the Secaucus Seven is a 1980 independent film directed and written by John Sayles. The movie revolves around a group of seven friends who reunite after years of being away from one another. The friends, whose commonality lies in their activism during college years, meet at the house of Mike Donnelly (Bruce MacDonald) in the town of Secaucus, New Jersey. Mike has organized the reunion, and the friends are excited to meet each other and catch up since they all went their separate ways.

The movie begins with the arrival of the friends; we get to see each friend's personality and traits. We are introduced to J.T. (Adam LeFevre), a musician who has left his unsuccessful career to work at a local factory. We meet Irene (Maggie Renzi), who is into environmentalism and is now a librarian. She has recently divorced and has a young daughter. Ron (Mark Arnott) is a filmmaker who has made one movie that didn't do well, and he has come to the reunion with his girlfriend, Kate (Gordon Clapp), who is a struggling actress. We see how all the characters have struggled to find their place in society and cope with their realities.

The first half of the movie is more laidback, with no major plot points, and it's meant to introduce us to the group of friends, their past relationships, and how they have evolved over the years. We learn that they were all part of an activist organization when they were in college fighting for social justice and peace. They reminisce about their past exploits and arguments, and the movie gives us a clear picture of their individual opinions on activism and living a meaningful life.

As the group starts to mingle, old feuds and romantic entanglements come to light, making the reunion more complicated. The second half of the movie becomes more serious as some of the characters reveal how they have changed since their college years. A letter arrives, and it's evident from the reaction it gets from most of the friends that it was unexpected, and it will have a significant impact on their reunion.

The Return of the Secaucus Seven is not your typical movie. It's a character-driven movie, and the plot is more of an afterthought. The movie is more focused on the conversations and interactions between the characters rather than a clear-cut storyline. The movie conveys a sense of nostalgia and the intricate web of relationships between the characters.

The movie's themes primarily focus on social activism and political ideals in America; it also explores the dynamics of friendships and relationships, the struggles of finding oneself, and how they have to deal with society's expectations. The movie's title is derived from the group of protestors whose protest march was broken up by the police in Secaucus, New Jersey, in the 1970s. The movie acknowledges their plight and showcases the importance of activism and standing up for what one believes in.

Return of the Secaucus Seven cemented John Sayles as a professional film writer and director. The movie received critical acclaim and was highly praised for its realistic portrayal of romantic entanglements, friendships, and day-in-the-life realism. The film was also highly influential in independent cinema and inspired many filmmakers to create films that deal with the day-to-day struggles of ordinary people.

In conclusion, Return of the Secaucus Seven is an excellent movie that explores the lives of seven college friends who reunite for a weekend. It's an intelligent and thought-provoking movie that deals with issues that are still relevant to this day. The movie is an excellent example of independent cinema and showcases a director at the top of his form. The characters are well developed and offer insight into how people struggle to find meaning in their lives. I highly recommend this movie for anyone who wants to watch a quality film that will stay with them long after the credits roll.

Return of the Secaucus Seven is a 1980 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 50 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0.