257. The Fight; movie review

THE FIGHT

Cert 15

97 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong language

One of the most influential pieces of literature in my life was George Orwell's 1984 because it made me understand how much the state disregards the individual.

Indeed, the longer my life has gone on, the more I have believed its premise to be true.

This inspired me, as a newspaper executive, to campaign for the disenfranchised or those who were either victim of cock-up or conspiracy.

Therefore, it can be of little surprise how much I was immersed in The Fight, a documentary by Eli B. Despres, Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg.

The Fight centres on the work of The American Civil Liberties Union, an organisation created to defend the rights of individuals in the United States.

It has been in existence for 100 years but only when Donald Trump became President did it begin to hit the headlines.

Just a week after he came into power in January 2017, it filed the first of around 150 lawsuits against his administration.

This documentary follows four of them and the team of lawyers and lobbyists who have stood up for for the 'little guy', knowing the importance their case may have on the rest of the population.

The four cases cover abortion rights, voting rights, enforced family separation by US federal agencies and legislation to outlaw transgender officers in the military.

They demonstrate the dedication required to stop Trump taking the cause of liberty dramatically backwards.

Mrs W and I admired the work ethic and the determination to stand up for a cause.

Although we were shocked to see that free speech, in the eyes of the ACLU, applies across the political spectrum.

Consequently, they supported the Alt Right's demonstration in Charlotte which culminated in unsavoury scenes.

However, The Fight is still worth watching because it shows the passion of lawyers fighting for the cause of freedom.

They are not arrogant - indeed, they have become used to losing cases because of the weight of political opposition to their cause.

However, the importance of their determination is seen when they come up with some punch-the-air wins.

To quote Anne Frank: "Where there's hope, there's life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again.”

Reasons to watch: Tackles some of the most important issues in the world today

Reasons to avoid: Because it champions a cause, it is one-sided

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 9/10

Did you know? During Donald Trump’s first year in office, the ACLU has filed 56 lawsuits challenging his administration’s assault on the constitution and the rule of law.  These suits cover a wide range of issues including immigrant rights, reproductive freedom, and discrimination against the LGBT community.

The final word. Eli Despres: "But we had some nervousness that maybe a movie about lawyers, [that] all of our characters were going to be boring and buttoned up [with] Brooks Brothers suits. What was great about the ACLU, [which] Dale, at one point in the movie, (describes), “There are more tattoos and piercings at the ACLU than the Department of Justice” Movable Fest

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