The Camden 28

Critics Consensus

Despite the fact the events chronicled in The Camden 28 occurred 30 years ago, this poignant and compassionate doc about Vietnam protesters is both powerful and timely.

89%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 27

69%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 47

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Movie Info

Filmmaker Anthony Giacchino explores the remarkable story of 28 anti-war activists who protested the Vietnam War by conspiring to break into a draft-board office in Camden, NJ, and destroy government draft records identifying young men available for military service. On Sunday, August 22, 1971, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and Attorney General John Mitchell announced that 20 anti-war activists had been arrested in and around a Camden draft-board office. Just five days later, the indictment of those 20 individuals -- as well as eight more who were accused of being involved in the incident -- was made public by Mitchell. Charged with conspiracy to remove and destroy files from the draft board, FBI office, and Army Intelligence office, many of the indicted faced up to 47 years in a federal prison if convicted. While the accused referred to themselves as "America's Conscience," the government dubbed them the Camden 28. Many were surprised to hear that all but one of the accused were prominent religious figures -- including four Catholic priests, a Lutheran minister, and 22 Catholic laypeople. All involved claimed that killing was morally indefensible, even in war. Over the course of the next two months, the defense would present its case and many of the defendants would passionately plead their case. In this documentary, filmmaker Giacchino explores the friendships and betrayals that played out as the controversial case of the Camden 28 went before a jury during a time when the country was divided by a war that seemed without end.
  • Rating:
    NR
  • Genre:
    Documentary, Drama
  • Directed By:
    Anthony Giacchino
  • Written By:
    Anthony Giacchino
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    First Run Features

Cast

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Critic Reviews for The Camden 28

All Critics (27) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (24) | Rotten (3)

View All Critic Reviews (27)

Audience Reviews for The Camden 28

  • Jul 29, 2007
    [font=Century Gothic]In 1971, a group of antiwar activists led by Protestant and Catholic clergy who were inspired by the civil disobedience of priests Philip and Daniel Berrigan decided to steal and destroy draft records in Camden, NJ. "The Camden 28" is a highly engrossing documentary about this action told through archival footage, interviews with participants and footage of a reunion 30 years later. The story is a complex one, with a couple of twists. Not only were the activists concerned with the war in Vietnam, but also the poverty in their native Camden.(Many of the local draftees were selected from the poorest neighborhoods.) It even made me rethink some of my views of religion but I did cringe when one of the priests talked about life being sacred. And it was especially cool that some of these activists are still involved in the antiwar movement thirty years later.[/font] [font=Century Gothic]Note to the film's director: Sorry I couldn't stay after the show but I really did have to run.[/font]
    Walter M Super Reviewer
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