The Camden 28 (2007)

Synopsis: Anthony Giacchino's suspenseful, tautly constructed documentary THE CAMDEN 28 recounts one of the 20th Century's most fascinating trials. In 1971, a group of Camden, New Jersey, residents who... Anthony Giacchino's suspenseful, tautly constructed documentary THE CAMDEN 28 recounts one of the 20th Century's most fascinating trials. In 1971, a group of Camden, New Jersey, residents who opposed the war in Vietnam, decided to take action. The group, consisting of many religious figures in the local community--including four Catholic priests--became known as the "Catholic left." Their target: the local draft board office, where they intended to destroy as much vital paperwork as possible. But during their assault, authorities barged in and stopped them in their tracks. Clearly, they had been set up. The ensuing trial sparked a passionate court room debate, where justice and the law didn't seem to connect. With THE CAMDEN 28, first-time feature filmmaker Giacchino takes a refreshing approach to his material, allowing the relevant players in the trial to tell their own story. The result is an infinitely more intimate, immediate, and compelling work. While Giacchino conceived of and shot most of his film before the Iraq War commenced, it is nonetheless an eerie reminder that one needn't look too far into the past to predict the future. [More]

Director: Anthony Giacchino

Director: Anthony Giacchino
Studio: First Run Features