Watch Underground

As a preface, it's important to note that this 1976 film titled Underground is not to be confused with the 1995 narrative film with the same name. The 1976 Underground is a documentary-style film that examines the political activism and radicalism of the 1960s and early 1970s. Directed by Emile de Antonio, Underground is a compelling film that follows a group of young radical activists and their involvement in the anti-war and civil rights movements during the late 60s and early 70s. The film features interviews with some of the key members of the Weather Underground - a militant and violent faction of the larger Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) - as they reflect on their experiences and the reasons that led them to turn to radicalism.

The film opens with grainy footage of the protests and the police brutality of a tumultuous time in American history. The film is divided into three parts, each part exploring a different aspect of the radicalism of this time period. The first part, titled "Weathermen", explores the rise of the Weather Underground as a militant and confrontational wing of the larger SDS. The Weather Underground was founded by several SDS members who had become disillusioned with the non-violent tactics of the larger organization.

The film features in-depth interviews with several members of the Weather Underground, including Bill Ayers and Kathy Boudin, discussing their protests and their decision to turn to violence as a means to achieve their political aims. The film shows how the Weather Underground planned and carried out a series of violent bombings throughout the United States in the late 60s and early 70s, targeting government buildings such as the Pentagon and the Capitol.

The second part of the film, titled "Days of Rage", explores the fallout of the Weather Underground's decision to become more radicalized. The film shows the group's attempts to mobilize protesters and to create a larger network of activists. However, as the group's tactics became increasingly violent, they began to lose support from many of their original allies in the anti-war and civil rights movements. The film shows how the Weather Underground became increasingly isolated and how the government began to pursue them as a terrorist organization.

The third and final part of the film titled "The Aftermath" examines the consequences of the radicalism of the 1960s and early 1970s. The film shows how the government used the threat of domestic terrorism to justify its own excesses, including illegal surveillance, harassment, and the infamous COINTELPRO program. The film features interviews with people who were targeted by the government during this time period, including activists and lawyers.

Overall, Underground is a fascinating documentary that provides insight into one of the most turbulent eras in American history. The film is particularly effective in showing how the radicalism of the 60s and 70s was a response to a society that was deeply unjust and how this period laid the groundwork for many of the battles that activists are still fighting today. While there are some aspects of the film that seem somewhat dated, such as the use of overly-dramatic music and the occasional heavy-handed editing, the film remains a thought-provoking and important historical document.

Underground is a 1976 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 27 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0.