THE US VERSUS JOHN LENNON

US, 2006, 95 minutes, Colour.
Directed by David Leaf and John Scheinfeld.

It is already more than a quarter of a century since the assassination of John Lennon in 1980. It is almost forty years since the Beatles broke up. In a way, this is a film about rather distant American history. Nevertheless, it is continually fascinating. And the film-makers imply the comparisons between the escalation of the Vietnam War and the war in Iraq. Only veteran commentator, Gore Vidal, actually makes this explicit.

This is a documentary that works on many levels. It offers a portrait of Lennon himself, touching on his years as a Beatle (the enormous popularity as well as the controversy about the comparisons with Jesus and the rampaging burning of Beatles’ records in the US) but spending most of the running time on his life with Yoko Ono and his activities in the Peace Movement.

It also offers an album of Lennon’s songs, post-Beatles, highlighting the power of the lyrics and their relevance to his own life, to the issues and to causes at the time, not just Imagine and Give Peace a Chance, but many others. (For those who want a powerful portrait of Lennon and his music, try the 1988 documentary, Imagine.)

The film offers a social history of the US in the late 1960s, early 1970s. It fills in the political background of Lyndon Johnson’s escalation of the war, his not contesting the 1968 election, the conventions of that year and the attendant violence as well as the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy, the emergence of Richard Nixon and his conduct of the war as well as his lying and downfall. John Lennon seems to have found something of his spiritual home in the US as well as causes which his rather rebellious nature believed in. He associated with the protest leaders of the time, including Bobby Seale. He saw his music become a rallying anthem for the peace movement.

While he was already under suspicion for his Jesus statements – which we see him put in the context of public acknowledgment of the Beatles, not of denigrating Jesus or Christianity – J, Edgar Hoover began to take greater interest in him, keep files and consider him a danger (as did Richard Nixon). His application for a green card was in the courts for years and successful only after Nixon’s disgrace. Lennon’s muse and collaborator was Yoko Ono (who collaborated with this film). The film highlights how their behaviour at the time, the famous bed-ins dismissed as stunts, was really performance art with social message.

The film draws on a rich array of commentators including Bobby Seale and Angela Davis, as well as many politicians and former FBI agents. The film is insightful even as it takes a strongly partisan view of its subject. One cannot but be moved as the film moves inexorably towards Lennon’s death at the age of 40. It makes a case for his being one of the influential personalities of the 20th century.

1. Audience knowledge of and response to John Lennon as a Beatle, as a solo musician and songwriter, as linked with Yoko Ono, as a peace demonstrator, as political in the United States, assassinated? As time passes, how different does this make the impact of the film? On the range of age audiences?

2. John Lennon’s stature, in the 1960s and 1970s, a symbol of the 60s, a proponent of peace, the context of the Vietnam War, of President Nixon, of J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI, of the Immigration Department?

3. The use of his songs for themes of the film, Lennon’s own songs, the wide range of songs used, the explicit context of the lyrics, the images corresponding to the lyrics? Especially the use of ‘Give Peace a Chance’, the demonstrations? Of ‘Imagine’? Are the songs for Yoko Ono? For Sean, ‘A Beautiful Boy’? The cumulative effect of listening to his songs, hearing the lyrics? A study of Lennon’s music?

4. The title, the Government of the United States, the people of the United States against Lennon? The reaction against the Beatles, against John Lennon’s comments about Jesus Christ? His interpretation of them and the way that they were misunderstood? The calls to destroy Beatles records, demonstrations against them? The inflated sound of the title – but the reality of John Lennon as a target?

5. The thesis of the film, John Lennon in himself, the brief explanation of his background in Liverpool, his being abandoned by father and mother, his growing up, being a rebel? The collaboration with the Beatles, just simply wanting to sing in a band? The impact of the Beatles, their comments, Lennon as the vocal leader? His seen as odd? Lennon as an artist, poetic, poetic language, play with language, performing arts? Especially with Yoko Ono? For peace? His meeting the political activists like Abby Hoffmann, Bobby Seal? Taking on their causes? The importance of the Sinclair case? Using his music, writing music for specific purposes including the Sinclair case, his popularity? Being perceived as a danger and his influencing young Americans?

6. J. Edgar Hoover, his history? His speech about urging Americans to have moral indignation against such people as Lennon? Ignoring the moral indignation of the protesters against the war? Anticommunist, his comment about better red than dead? His use of authority, authoritarian? His own version of democracy? Having Bob Haldeman’s ear, access to Nixon? The photos with Nixon? The range of files, the reasons? The testimony of former agents, both for and against Lennon? Their observations on Lennon’s danger, how this was interpreted? The immigration issue?

7. President Nixon, his statements about artists? His aides, the comments of Carl Bernstein in retrospect of All the President’s Men? The waging of the war, the conventions in 1968, his election platform? The invasion of Cambodia? His resigning, disgrace? Nixon in retrospect, Lennon and his staying in America?

8. The film’s portrait of the war in Vietnam, the explanation of the history, Vietnam as a monarchy, US commitment, L.B.J., Nixon? The 60s conventions – and the protest, the police bashing youth in Chicago? The deaths at Kent State – and the comments about how this was inevitable from the point of view of the FBI agents? Vietnam, the bombing of Cambodia? The testimony of Ron Kovic, his popularity from Born on the Fourth of July, the quality of his reflections?

9. The peace rallies, the crowds, the comparisons with Martin Luther King, King’s death in 1968? Demonstrations, the Sinclair concert, Sinclair’s own observations and memories? The song? Sinclair and the drugs, the punishment? His being let go?

10. Politicians and TV shows, Bobby Seal, Lennon interviewing people like Seal, Seal as political, commentators perceiving the dangers, the comments on Lennon being a dreamer, naïve? Invitations to Florida for the convention, he and Yoko Ono not going? His comment about being paranoid?

11. Performing arts, the Bed Ins, the eccentricities, in Amsterdam, the press, prurient curiosity, the role of performing arts and drama to convey messages? Get people talking? The other activities, Yoko Ono and her influence, performing arts, her songs, the posters – “Peace can come if we want it”?

12. The picture of Yoko Ono in herself, love for Lennon, support, the bonds between the two, Lennon dominating the press conferences, pregnancy, the birth of Sean, the happy years? The granting of permission to stay, getting the Green Card? Her comments from twenty-five years on?

13. Lennon in the US, his fight to stay, his lawyer and the testimony, the postponements, his feeling at home, in New York, where creativity and music were?

14. The impact of his assassination, world grief?

15. Lennon and his significance as a person, influence, symbol, artist?

16. The theme of arts and celebrities, communicating the truth, influence?

17. The film as contributing to a social history of the US from 1968 – and the testimony of such politicians as George McGovern? and Mario Cuomo?