Machover and Fruchter's intimate documentary follows the trials and tribulations of a group of Students for a Democratic Society militants in their attempt to politicize and organize the people of Newark, New Jersey. For Amos Vogel, Troublemakers was one of the best films of the New Left because it eschewed "both clichés and propaganda" in favor of "honesty" and "careful exploration." A must watch both for activists and political documentarians. (Doc Films)
Direction
Fly-on-wall intimacy without the manipulative editing.
Writing
No narration lets subjects hang themselves honestly.
Director
Robert Machover
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Robert Kramer, who appears in the film, would go on to direct Ice (1969), another landmark of political cinema.
Amos Vogel's championing of this film at Cinema 16 helped establish the template for activist documentary that refuses easy answers.
US
