the usa vs. John Lennon (2006)

Directed by: David Leaf, John Scheinfeld | 99 minutes | music, documentary | Starring: John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Walter Cronkite, Mario Cuomo, Angela Davis, G. Gordon Liddy, George McGovern, Richard Nixon, Geraldo Rivera, J. Edgar Hoover, Ron Kovic

John Lennon’s message is still current, that much is clear after watching ‘The US versus John Lennon’. A fascinating and fascinating documentary that provides a beautiful picture of a period when protesting was the order of the day. We see huge crowds rallying against the Vietnam War, against the Nixon government, and against the invasion of Cambodia. Everything seems to revolve around campaigning and singing protest songs. The turbulent sixties and seventies are fully covered. This includes the Vietnam War, the Black Panthers, protest movements and the Nixon government.

On a personal level, we see his relationship with Yoko Ono, his move to New York, his friendship with radical political activists, the birth of his son, “Bed Peace” in Amsterdam and Montreal, appearances, interviews, photos, the boycott of the Beatles in 1966 and Lennon’s visa problems in America.

This interesting archival footage takes a look back at famous individuals of the time who had personal contact with Lennon, including journalists, photographers, his lawyer and, of course, Yoko Ono himself. Directors Leaf and Scheinfeld focus on John Lennon’s life from 1966 to 1976, focusing on his transition from innocent Beatles singer and pop idol to a politically conscious performer. They show a John Lennon who as a child was abandoned by his father and mother, grew up in the working class in England and always had a rebellious character. He was often expelled from the classroom.

The Beatles used to sing mostly sweet songs, but this changed with ‘Revolution’ (1968). Lennon, in particular, began to express himself more and more politically at that time. He felt he couldn’t help but because of what was happening around them. In addition, they were often asked for their opinion in interviews, he says. The film paints a picture of a creative mind, artist, writer, musician, intellectual, political activist and pop idol who, through his deep commitment to peace – “apathy doesn’t work, you can do something” – has inspired millions of people. His ‘Give Peace A Chance’ became the anthem of the protest movement against the unpopular Vietnam War, sung by thousands of people at once in the garden of the White House. Especially many young people of that time listened to him. In addition, Lennon befriended radical activists such as the leader of the Black Panthers, whom he also funded.

Lennon’s political influence seemed great, leaving Nixon feeling threatened and considering him an enemy of the state. He tried to silence him with the help of the FBI and his foreman J. Edgar Hoover. They followed him, bugged him, and tried to strip him of his visa, terrifying Lennon: “I was scared paranoid.” The documentary shows us a sobering picture of a fearful government that is doing everything it can to eliminate dissenters and to keep the Vietnam War going at all costs. The black and white images of that time are reinforced by Lennon’s music. Classics such as ‘Imagine’, ‘Give Peace a Chance’ and ‘Power to the People’ are unfortunately still very topical today. ‘Imagine all the people living life in peace’. Yes, just imagine, no war in Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan and so on: imagine.

‘The US versus John Lennon’ was shot at Lions Gate Films who also released Michael Moore’s film ‘Fahrenheit 9/11’ (2004). It is one big tribute to the person John Lennon and his work. Everyone who speaks praises his actions and tells how incredibly good and creative John was. A critical note is missing, but Lennon was someone who fought for peace in a peaceful way. So as noted in the film, “Who could be against that?”