Recommending films to my students: Hurricane (1999)

"Yes, that's the story of the Hurricane
But it won't be over 'til they clear his name
And give him back the time he's done
Put in a prison cell, but one time he coulda been
The champion of the world..."
Bob Dylan, Hurricane
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In June 1966, three people were shot to death at a New Jersey bar. Police were looking for two suspects, who according to the testimony of one of the victims before he died, were African Americans. Two policemen stopped African -American boxer Rubin Carter's car, while he was drining around with a friend of his near the area, but find no evidence against them. The testimony, though, of a man involved in the mafia, who tesified that he witnessed Rubin killing those people and that he was guilty for the murders, lead to Carter's arrest, trial and condemnation.

Rubin Carter was the perfect "victim" for the judicial system. An athlete with determination and a promising career in front of him, but also with frequent problems with the law, and above all an independent man. Who was not afraid to say his opinion and to be overwhelmed by the discrimination there was in American society.

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Rubin Carter in his boxing carreer

Rubin Carter stayed in his prison cell, "sitting like a Budda in ten foot cell" (as Dylan describes in his song about Rubin "Hurricane" Carter) about 19 years before the retrial that set him free. During his imprisonment, Carter wrote an autobiography, that was titled "The 16th round" that inspired not only a great artist, Bob Dylan, to write a song, but also a director, Norman Jewison, to narrate Rubin Carter's wrongful conviction.

Personally the story of Rubin Carter shook me. From the moment I first heard Bob Dylan's "Hurricane", which tells the story of the boxer in great detail, my mind could not fathom how a man could be unjustly imprisoned for something he did not do. And how the only reason - in my opinion - for his conviction was racial discrimination. Dylan's song is still one of my favorites today
I hadn't seen Jewison's film. I knew everyone was raving about it and referring to Denzel Washington's amazing performance. I happened to see it a few years ago at a film screening festival and I was already suspicious of what I was about to watch.
I had previously watched films by this director (Moonstruck, End Justice for All, A Soldier's Story...) and was aware of his engagement with social and political issues. And the true story of Rubin Carter motivated him.
Surely the choice of Denzel Washington in the title role was the best. His performance was excellent (after all, I think there are very few films in which he has not performed well). He portrayed both the reactionary, stubborn Rubin early in his career and the settled, now incarcerated Rubin, who has made peace with himself.

Also, I had singled out the unknown to me Liev Schreiber in the role of one of the people who believed and fought for Rubin Carter's innocence. But I think credit should also be given to the director. It may not have presented the events exactly as they unfolded, but that was not the aim. He wanted to emphasize the injustice suffered by this particular hero and indicate the causes of his suffering. That is why he presented the story of the wronged in two large meaningful units. The first concerned his career in boxing but also his life and his activism. The other involves the 16-year-old who was so impressed by the boxer's book that he enlisted the help of his adoptive family to revive the theme of his trial. And from there began a titanic struggle to bring the longed-for justice. As the hero says in the film: "Hate put me in prison, love will get me out."

Bob Dylan meeting with Rubin Carter

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Indeed, the love, the support that Carter receives from various people (Dylan among them) helps to release and correct this injustice. And that's the message we should take from this movie. Love is what saves, while hate just divides.

The movie is pretty strong (it's a gut punch at some points). Worth watching for Denzel Washington's performance alone. It is worth it because it is a true story, which can teach us a lot. Worth it for the wonderful, unique song "Hurricane" by Dylan.

I had forgotten about the movie. But as I'm getting ready for the new school year, I'm looking for movies and books to recommend to the kids. And luckily for me, while searching I came across this trailer. And I remembered her. And I already included it in my suggestions. In the category "Things I wish would go away: Racism-Social Injustice".

Thank you for reading.

How can the life of such a man
Be in the palm of some fool's hand?
To see him obviously framed
Couldn't help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land
Where justice is a game...

Hurricane, Bob Dylan
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