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'The Trial of the Chicago 7': Has nothing changed since 1968? Fans say movie shows 'so many parallels to 2020'

If we have learned anything from the drama written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, it is that much of American politics remains the same

We are doomed to repeat history if we don't learn from it and there seems to be no better way to realize this than when we watch Aaron Sorkin's latest creation, now streaming on Netflix. Sorkin worked on 'The Trial of the Chicago 7' for more than a decade – perhaps it was bad luck that kept pushing the film's completion but it seemed to have worked out given that the events of the 1968 protests and the 1969 Chicago conspiracy trial are eerily reminiscent of what is going on today.

'The Trial of the Chicago 7' follows the infamous trial which took place in 1969 when the original eight (then seven) defendants were charged under the Rap Brown Law aka the Anti-Riot Act. The original eight defendants were Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Bobby Seale, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, John Froines and Lee Weiner. Seale's charges were dropped and his was declared a mistrial after he was brought bound and gagged to the courtroom.

If we have learned anything from the drama written and directed by Sorkin, it is that much of American politics remains the same. That the film was released in 2020 at a time when the country had been embroiled in countless protests against police brutality, racial injustice, and more amid a pandemic, seems to be quite prescient. Viewers who watched Sorkin's film on Netflix felt the same.

One viewer tweeted, "The [trial] against the #Chicago7 shows that America hasn't changed much since the 1960s. What happened to them then, can happen to protesters now. The police are still corrupt brutes, still vile racist. Andy Sorkin gets a 10 out of 10 from me!" Another wrote, "So grateful to @NetflixUK & @NetflixFilm for #Chicago7. Aaron Sorkin never disappoints. The film features a stellar cast including strong performances by Brits such as @SachaBaronCohen. What is so important about the film is how prescient the piece is. 52 years later & still so much injustice."

A fan remarked, "Just finished watching The Trial of the Chicago 7 on @NetflixFilm and I cannot recommend it enough! So many parallels to 2020. It’s also beautifully scripted by Aaron Sorkin. Acting superb! #Chicago7." Another wrote, "Watching The Trial of the Chicago 7... really goes to show how broken American politics has been for a long time. #chicago7." One viewer opined, "Struggling to process my feelings after watching #TrialoftheChicago7. The kind of injustice and political wrongs that existed back in 1968 still exists today. Watching this movie made me so angry it brought me to tears. And yet, knowing the final outcome reminds me there is hope."

'The Trial of the Chicago 7' is now streaming on Netflix.