It's I must see for everyone. It just shows how people have truly changed and not in the best way either

"1971" is such a wonderfully realized and informative documentary, that not only gives you a real sense of the period in which it documents, but also acts as a brilliant and tense story, leaving the viewer in awe. "1971" follows the story of a group of young political activists, who in the early 70's had enough with J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI. As a form of protest, the group managed to secretly infiltrate an FBI office and steal hundreds of incriminating documents, which they would send to new papers and media outlets alike, bursting the FBI wide open and forcing them to rethink and change their strategies. It's no secret to anyone who has ever watched a documentary on America, that the FBI are criminally corrupt and held up by the grace of the corruption in the American government, its just a fact, however for me, although I was aware of the stuff they were capable of, still found "1971" to be totally fresh and in some instances frightening. Here we have a brilliantly simple and human story, told via the actual activists who carried out the raid, its constantly intimate and the entire first act feels like you are sitting through the best parts of a Mission Impossible plan. The story is wonderfully told through contributor and also reenactment, adding a further sense of tension. The film manages to have all its markers laid out and hit each one every time, the film is paced brilliantly, is constantly heartfelt and informative, it is full of information and never makes your feel over bloated, this is a brilliantly crafted piece of film. Its hard to find flaws with "1971", maybe a lack of opposing contributors may file under that category, however the proof is so in the pudding with its argument, it would be impossible to argue with anything this film lays on the table. A must watch.

Interesting forebear of wikileaks and expose of governmental misdeed.

This excellent documentary is almost a prequel to Watergate. FBI and internal surveliance. Aren't you glad this never happened again?!

important documentary

A reminder that it is never a good idea to hand over to much power to any group or agency for the illusion of safety. The best intentions always end up being corrupted and abused.

An excellent doc about the great whistle blowing of the 70s - uncovering the mass surveillance undertaken by the FBI on ordinary American citizens.

"1971" is a documentary about a group of anti-Vietnam war activists taking their pacifism a step further. Responding to rumors that the FBI was spying on them, they planned and successfully pulled off a burglary of an FBI regional office in Media, Pa in 1971. What they found confirmed not only their fears but also that it was even worse than they previously imagined, especially as it relates to the formerly top secret program COINTELPRO. In dispensing the files to media outlets, this also served as a precedent for future whistleblowers such as in the cases of the Pentagon Papers and Watergate. And that relevance continues to the present day. "1971" also serves as a neat visual companion to Betty Medsger's book "The Burglary" by using archival footage to visualize the times, while making suspenseful use of reconstructions.(As one of the journalists who received the files at the Washington Post, she is also interviewed in the documentary, along with the burglars.) At the same time, the book goes into greater detail, especially on the subject of how exactly J. Edgar Hoover's unchallenged cult of personality hurt the FBI over the decades.

I saw 1971 at its Tribeca premiere - the audience was stunned by the story and the quality of the film. Such a worthy film. Could be the sleeper doc contender in 2015.

One of the best documentaries I've seen. Compelling, artfully told, and SO RELEVANT, without melodrama or sensationalism.

Quite well made, and an interesting little story for sure. Enriching, thought-provoking, and never boring.