201. Riotsville USA; movie review

 

RIOTSVILLE, USA

Cert 12A

91 mins

BBFC advice: Contains references to racism, infrequent real injury detail

In some ways, our lives since the 1960s seem to be of consistent and momentous change - in others, society in 2023 mirrors that of 60 years ago.

The latter is the subliminal point of Sierra Pettengill's Riotsville USA.

This documentary revisits America during the time of protests by communities against police brutality towards ethnic minorities.

As the demonstrations grew and became more violent, the Government, under Lyndon Johnson, developed its response - and part of that was the training of the military to deal with rioters.

Riotsville was the name given to mock streets at camps where drills were practised in the event of civil unrest.

The training was recorded and tapes were kept by the authorities.

Access to it and documents, photographs and footage are public right and Pettengill worked hard on accessing and selecting her material.

In addition, she puts heavy emphasis on contemporary public broadcasts in which intellectual arguments were encouraged between those of contrasting views about the riots.

Meanwhile, the disturbances themselves and the reasons for them show how little society has changed, media presentation certainly has.

It is intriguing the respect the TV debate participants show to each other and how they ask and answer direct questions.

Of course, emotions are raised but it is seen as unseemly when they overflow and they are definitely not encouraged unlike in today's bearpit.

The problem is that, despite the talking, nothing is resolved.

For reminding us of how we were and how we still are, Riotsville USA is worth watching but maybe a little high-brow for current tastes.

Reasons to watch: An important comparison

Reasons to avoid: Background knowledge needed

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 7/10

Did you know? The so-called ghetto riots of 1964-69 resulted in more than 150 deaths and over 20,000 arrests.

The final word.  Sierra Pettingill: "What we’re seeing now is in part of a crisis due to, on one side, corporate consolidation of media, and, on the other side, a really hollowing out of funding for any kind of local community reporters. Today’s crisis is a different one in terms of the failure of the media to properly respond. It’s driven by a different set of systemic failures." Cinema Daily US

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