The Trial of the Chicago 7
Star-studded historical drama by Aaron Sorkin about the trials of seven people following peaceful protests that turned violent in Chicago in 1968.
In 1968, the Vietnam War bitterly divided America. During a protest in Chicago, major riots break out and many protesters get arrested. In the aftermath of the demonstration, seven protesters are charged by the US state with conspiracy and rebellion. The trial that follows turns into a media circus, with a lead role for judge Julius Hoffman.
Sorkin was asked to write the screenplay for THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 in 2006, with Steven Spielberg intending to direct the film. The project got suspended, Spielberg dropped out, Paul Greengrass and Ben Stiller were rumoured as replacement directors, but the project did not move forward. In 2020, Spielberg decided to resurrect the film, with Sorkin (screenwriter for THE NEWSROOM and THE SOCIAL NETWORK) as the director and Spielberg himself as the producer. The political urgency of the film is as strong in 2020 as it was in 2006. In fact, THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 feels especially relevant right now, as protests continue around the USA.