Four Hours at the Capitol

The footage acquired by the filmmakers is incredible - much of it previously unreleased to the media. The producers clearly developed a strong report with some of the insurrectionists which is what gave the film the most in depth, on the ground vantage point of any films on this tragic day. Somehow they even managed to get quality footage (taken by the rioters themselves) of many of the individuals they later interviewed. That is what truly sets this apart from the ever growing index of films about January 6th.

I read a Variety review that was very critical of the film for giving the rioters a platform for spreading more false narratives. But I disagree. I think it's critical to hear these voices (as misguided as they may be) for us to understand the mindsets of the people who tried to overthrow our democracy. Because, rest assured, they will try it again.

If, in a country of several hundred million, a few thousand fiercely dispute the legitimacy of the government, you might think the country isn't actually doing too badly. But a few thousand people, if sufficiently determined, can do a whole lot of damage. But orderly government is usually possible because the dissenters understand the futility of trying to force their way. But Donald Trump, an incumbent President who lost his re-election, proceded to tell his followers the election had been stolen and moreover, that they could do something about it. Eventually, some of them violently stormed the U. S. legislature. This documentary shows what happened. On one hand, it shows just a little of the context: we see Trump's last speach to the rioters, but not how he tried to persistently de-ligitimise the election result. We also get a lot of interviews with the rioters themselves, who are allowed to self-justify at excessive length. But we do also get a lot of film of the event, which shows clearly the true horror of what unfolded. However much the protesters claim to have simply been exerting their rights, it's clear that their actions, whatever their individual motivations, amounted in total to a full-on attack on the U. S. government. In the end, order was restored, but Trump was never held to account. And the worrying thing is that tyrants have throughout history seized power through the incitement of the mob. It's hard to avoid concluding that the modern Republican party has not decided to take the side of tyranny over democracy, which does not bode at all well for the future.

I think some of the 1 star reviews by Trump supporters didn't even watch this. One asked how the protestors got past the police without weapons, if you watch, you see exactly how.

This showed a lot of cell phone videos and body cam footage that I never saw on the news. How anyone can say this was peaceful is insane. I cried as they pulled an officer through the crowd and repeatedly hit and tazed him.

To the ones saying it is all biased, if it were truly biased it would not have shown interviews with the protestors themselves.

This film shows a time line of what actually occurred on January 6th. The editing of footage was finely done. I've invited eight friends over for another viewing tomorrow.

If you were not at the Capitol.on January 6th, this documentary will make you feel like you were.

Presented chronologically on that day, it's honest, real, and gripping.

Recommend for anyone interested in seeing and hearing the experiences of many points of view, and the real life consequences.