Watch The Weather Underground

The Weather Underground is a 2002 documentary film that explores the radical underground organization of the same name that emerged in the United States during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The film is directed by Sam Green and tells the story of the organization through the voices of its members, former members, and archival footage.

The documentary is a powerful and often disturbing portrait of a small group of individuals who were willing to use violence and guerrilla tactics to fight against what they saw as an oppressive government and a corrupt society. The Weather Underground believed that the only way to bring about revolutionary change in America was through armed struggle, and they were responsible for a number of bombings and other acts of violence that targeted government buildings, banks, and other symbols of American capitalism.

The film begins with an overview of the political and social landscape of the late 1960s, when a growing number of Americans were becoming disillusioned with the war in Vietnam and the government's response to various social issues. The documentary then focuses on the formation of the Weather Underground, a group of young radicals who were inspired by the Black Panthers and other revolutionary movements of the time.

The Weather Underground was initially founded as a faction of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), a left-wing political group that was involved in various anti-war and civil rights protests. However, the Weather Underground quickly became more radicalized, and its members began to engage in acts of violence against the government and other targets.

In order to avoid arrest, the members of the Weather Underground went underground and lived in secret cells throughout the country. These cells were often isolated and members had strict rules about who they could talk to and how they could communicate with the outside world.

Despite their extreme tactics, the members of the Weather Underground were able to attract a significant following and were seen by some as heroes of the revolutionary left. However, as the 1970s wore on and the group became more marginalized, many members began to question their tactics and the effectiveness of their revolutionary goals.

The documentary features a number of interviews with former Weather Underground members, who discuss their experiences living in hiding, planning and carrying out acts of violence, and ultimately coming to terms with the legacy of their actions. The film also includes archival footage of various protests and bombings, as well as interviews with government officials and others who were involved in the counterterrorism efforts to apprehend the members of the Weather Underground.

Overall, The Weather Underground is a fascinating and thought-provoking documentary that explores the motivations and actions of an extremist group that played a significant role in the political and social upheavals of the 1960s and 1970s. The film is well-researched and provides a nuanced portrayal of the group's members, delving deep into the personal and political struggles that marked their lives. Whether one agrees with the Weather Underground's tactics or not, there is no denying the impact that the group had on American society, and this documentary provides a compelling window into that impact.

The Weather Underground is a 2003 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5 and a MetaScore of 77.