The Ku Klux Klan (Mississippi Burning (DVD))

Name: sunmeilan

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Product:	Mississippi Burning (DVD)
Date:	03/07/06 (838 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Powerful portrayal of the harm that racism can do

Disadvantages: A lot of violence

Introduction
I first saw this film many years ago and it has always stood out in my mind as one of the best films of all time, mainly because of the anger that such racism did (and undoubtedly still does) exist as recent as the 1960s. Based on true happenings, this film captures the power with which such a way of thought can have an influence on the feelings of a community. This is not a film to watch if you want something light-hearted, but it is deeply thought provoking and well worth watching.

The story
Three civil rights activists, two white and one black, working in Mississippi become concerned when they realise that they are being followed. They stop, thinking it is the police, and are brutally murdered. Some time later, once their disappearance has been noticed, the FBI are called in to investigate. Enter Ward and Anderson, two agents with very different ways of working.

The community is clearly unconcerned that the activists may have been murdered and refuse to cooperate with the agents, including the local sheriff’s office, who in fact impede the FBI’s work. Slowly, the pair begin to realise that there is something much more seriously wrong than just the three missing activists. Can they find out who is responsible or will the Ku Klux Klan-ridden community come out on top?

The actors/characters
Gene Hackman, who plays Anderson, is by far and away the highlight of this film. Working to a boss much younger than him, he resents his junior role and so working relations do not go well to begin with – to the extent that it seems as if Anderson is actually on the side of the Ku Klux Klan himself. However, this is not the case and he eventually pulls out all the stops to solve the crime. I think this is Gene Hackman’s best performance ever. It is rare that I become so involved with a character that I begin to identify with him, but his performance was so real that I couldn’t help myself. His feelings for the wife of the deputy sheriff and his belief that what he was doing was right enabled him to show his softer side. Brilliantly done.

Willem Dafoe, who plays Ward, was less mesmerizing, but mainly because his role was not as meaty as Hackman’s. Ward is a young and up-coming FBI officer who often acts before he thinks. His questioning of a young black man in front of a group of white people led to his receiving a beating. His determination to solve the case does shine through though. He is less interesting as a character, because we never really get past the fact that he lives for his job – he seemingly has no interest in anything outside his job. Still, again, he did a good job in the role.

I should also mention Frances McDormand, who plays Deputy Pell’s wife and for whom Anderson has feelings. Having seen her recently in the lead role in Fargo, I was amazed at how different she looked. Her obvious disapproval of her husband’s racist feelings comes through clearly and although her role is not a major one, she does stand out in the film as one of the best actors.

Finally, Gailard Sartain and Brad Dourif, who play Sheriff Stuckey and Deputy Pell, deserve a mention for their extremely realistic portrayal of a racist. This was so believable that I found myself screaming in frustration and got so aggressive that my partner had to tell me to calm down. A sign of good acting I think – either that or they really are racist.

The direction
I’m not aware of having watched any other films by Alan Parker, the director, but he certainly pulled a cracker here. The cinematography was excellent, particularly the burning of churches and homes where black people worshipped and lived. Against a night sky, this was very vividly done. There are no shots spared at the violence and degradation that black people were forced to tolerate and this is what makes the film so powerful.

Technical bits

Classification: 18. This is about right – there is substantial violence and hatred shown in this film.

Running time: 2 hours

Conclusion
This film affected me so much that I was shaking with anger by the end of it. This is partly because of my views towards racism – I cannot understand why anyone could think they could treat their neighbours like that just because they are black – but mainly because of the excellent acting and direction. It is disturbing though, and I think that it needs to be watched in the right frame of mind.

Although the film is two hours long, a little longer than I usually like, it was not a problem with this film. I found myself glued to the screen from start to finish. One thing I really liked was regular clips of people being interviewed about the missing activists and the situation at the time; both white and black people were interviewed and it really helped to bring out the shocking truth about how people felt. The ability with which those in authority (in this case the police and the mayor) can colour the thoughts of those less able to make up their own mind is amazingly portrayed, as is the vehemence of the feelings.

The development of the story also deserves a mention. What starts as an investigation into three civil rights activists slowly develops into something much much bigger. This is really well drawn out and is partly what makes this film so gripping and watchable.

One criticism is that the film portrays the white Mississippians (if there is such a word) as racist through and through with very few exceptions and the black Mississippians are portrayed as the silent masses, not retaliating. I do not know the exact situation, but I cannot help but think it must be exaggerated.

However, I highly recommend you watch this film. Exaggerated or not, I think it is important that people know the damage that racism has done in the past and try to apply it to the present, when the British National Party is recruiting more and more people because of the War on Terror.

I watched the film version, but the DVD is available for just £5.99 from play.com, and can be bought even more cheaply second-hand from eBay and Amazon.

Summary: A must-see