"William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe"
4 (out of 5) stars
Attorney William Kunstler stood up in a time of extreme prejudice and intolerance, otherwise known as the 1960’s. He defended minorities when they were treated like animals, and activists when they couldn’t express their beliefs. Poignantly directed by Kunstler’s daughters, Disturbing the Universe conveys — and makes you appreciate — how much our country has progressed because of people like Kunstler.
Fortunately, this documentary is not a mere tribute to the man. Directors Emily and Sarah Kunstler scrutinize their father and question his actions. They aren’t afraid to show their disapproval of his profession. Early on in the film, we see an interview with them in which Sarah says, with a judgmental tone, “Some people act and others just defend them. I’m a person of action.” But as the film goes on and these women get to the truth of who Kunstler was, that attitude changes. They become their father’s daughters — defending him with the same unconditional compassion with which he defended his clients.
We see that Kunstler didn’t believe in the legal system (like his daughters initially thought), but in absolute justice and equality. This explains why he rallied for the unpopular. The film shows that in his era, standing behind a black man or an activist like Abbie Hoffman was equivalent to defending a witch in the Salem Witch Trials. Judges were appalled by Kunstler’s unapologetically passionate support of these people.
Watching this film now, in a time of a black president and more open minds, is a surreal experience. You feel as though you’re seeing events of another planet — and many times, you wish you were. One of those times is during a sequence about the 1971 Attica State Prison riot. We see one of the convicts Kunstler defended looking through pictures of the bloody rebellion with dread. “If someone didn’t know this was Attica, I wonder if they would even know these pictures were from this country,” the man says, holding back tears. That moment is a punch in the gut for the audience too, as it reminds us how far our nation has had to come to rebuild its reputation.
In another of the film's many powerful scenes, Kunstler speaks of the loss of the innocent and how their unnecessary deaths “disturb the universe.” Unfortunately, the innocent still die, but this country is a more hopeful and open place for them to live thanks to people like Kunstler. He may have disturbed the universe too with his risky, eccentric behavior, but for the better.
Do not miss this film when it plays at the IMA on Thursday, Feb. 18 (7:30 p.m.). It is being shown as part of the museum’s Black History Month celebration. It is exactly the inspiring tale that would make black leaders — such as our nation's president — proud.
http://www.nuvo.net/entertainment/article/william-kunstler-disturbing-universe
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