About Social Confrontation: The Battle of Michigan Avenue

"Social Confrontation: The Battle of Michigan Avenue" is an acclaimed film released in 1968, encapsulating a critical day at the Democratic National Convention of the same year. This eye-opening film depicts a tense confrontation between the National Guardsmen and protestors, who were primarily against the Vietnam War. The film captures the dramatic collection of mass arrests near Grant Park and displays Mayor Daley's infamous tirade against opponents on the convention floor.

Making / Production

The production team diligently collected the raw footage from various scenarios on that fateful day, intertwining it to form a compelling narrative that depicted the politically charged atmosphere. The editing and production process was painstakingly done to ensure the authenticity of happenings while communicating the intense emotions of the protestors and the authorities involved in the standoff.

Actors

• This documentary-style film primarily uses real-life footage, making the participants of the day, the protagonists. The real-life "actors" were protestors, National Guardsmen, and Mayor Daley himself
• The role of the National Guardsmen was clear-cut; they were there to maintain law and order. Their portrayal in the film shows them in action, detaining protestors, a reflection of the government's stance during the event
• Mayor Daley was characterised as a strong, confrontational figure, fervently defending his stance against the protestors from the convention floor

Trivia / Interesting Facts about it

• This film has been used in multitude of academic and public discourse, to examine and understand the widespread anti-war sentiments during the Vietnam War and its impact on political events like the Democratic National Convention
• The documentary is a powerful testimonial to the events of that day, captured as they unfolded, unfiltered and raw, presenting a unique perspective to viewers

Quotes

• Mayor Daley's tirade made for a memorable scene - "Get out you cops! This is enough!"
• A protestor's passionate cry - "We won't be silenced! Our voices will be heard!"

Music, Soundtrack

• The film primarily focused on actual sounds from the scene, including protestors' chants, the roar of the crowd, and the orders from the security forces. It added to the raw and real portrayal of the event

Awards

While it did not receive any known awards, "Social Confrontation: The Battle of Michigan Avenue" has been praised for its detailed documentation and candid representation of the 1968 Democratic National Convention's events. It continues to be a document of importance in media studies and political discourse.