The mid-1960s saw a marked rise in civil unrest in the United States. The Vietnam War, poor living conditions for people of color, and a major shift in attitudes all contributed to people turning to violence as a means of protest. A new documentary, Riotsville, USA., shows the federal government’s reaction to this tactic as ominous and in some ways funny.
Riotsville in the title is the name of a fake town built as a training ground for law enforcement, where the plot of the riot was enacted by soldiers and police. Several of these towns were built by the U.S. government in collaboration with local police departments, and the event was filmed for official review. The documentary’s director, Sierra Pettengill, uses various archival footage here. There are government films of exercises in Riotsville, talk show clips, and mini-her narratives for public television stations where progressive politics led to defunding by the Ford Foundation. And of course searing images from riots in Los Angeles, Chicago, Newark, Memphis and Miami.
A federal advisory panel on civil unrest has concluded that there is, in fact, something to riot in the mob. They recommended sweeping policies to reduce inequality. Activist H. Rapp Brown, who was in prison when the report was released, said people on the committee should also be in solitary confinement. But the only recommendation lawmakers took action was to increase the police budget.
The tone of the film, defined largely by the narration written by essayist Tobi Haslett and read by Charlene Modest, is often one of tired exasperation. Like Haslett’s impassioned account of media coverage of the Democratic convention, perhaps accused of indignation overwhelming the press. This is not an objective movie. It is a controversy, a work of activism, a challenge to the viewer.
Riotsville, USA
Unrated. Running time: 1 hour 31 minutes. at the theater.