Last night, I had the immense pleasure of seeing a film on the “big screen” that I helped become what it is in a little tiny way…
William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe is a documentary about William Kunstler, the famous/infamous civil rights attorney who defended the Chicago 8, the Catonsville 9 and a host of other controversial figures throughout his career.
The film was made by two of his daughters, Emily and Sarah Kunstler. I met them while managing the fiscal sponsorship program at Fractured Atlas and worked with them to process the donations and manage some of the funds that helped make this movie a reality. They also used Women Make Movies as a fiscal sponsor, another important organization that serves women filmmakers.
The film is a beautiful story of a complicated man and the relationship his daughters had to him while growing up here in NYC. In Kunstler’s later years, he defended some rather unsavory characters, including handling two years worth of appeals battles in behalf of Yusef Salaam, one of the Central Park Jogger rapists who was later exonerated when the real culprit confessed to the crime.
The film is currently playing at Cinema Village in NYC – it runs through this weekend and will be extended if ticket sales warrant it. They are having talk backs/Q&As with the filmmakers and some of the key players after certain showings and if you have any interest in the history of civil rights and/or this fascinating man, I strongly suggest you see the film.
Yusef Salaam was one of the speakers at the Q&A last night. To hear him talk about being falsely accused, convicted and to ultimately serve 5+ years for a crime he didn’t commit at age 15 was frightening, heartbreaking and ultimately inspirational. He has become an amazing advocate and a bold example of why we need serious prison and judicial reform in this country.
It will be opening in LA, San Francisco, Seattle and more cities around the U.S. this weekend – you can find all the details on the film’s website.
Congratulations to Sarah and Emily for creating this amazing documentary about their father and an important figure in American history. To me, this is the best possible use of a fiscal sponsorship program in the arts.
