Punishment Park

Synopsis

Both controversial and relentless in its depiction of suppression and brutality, PUNISHMENT PARK was heavily attacked by the mainstream press and permitted only the barest of releases in 1971. Peter Watkins’ film has established itself as one of the key, yet rarely seen, radical films of the late 1960s/early 1970s. The film gives voice to the disaffected youth of America that had lived through the campus riots at Berkeley, the trial of the Chicago Seven and who were witnessing the escalation of the Vietnam War.

Set in a detention camp in an America of the near-future, The film’s pseudo-documentary style places a British film crew amongst a group of young students and minor dissidents who have opted to spend three days in ‘Bear Mountain Punishment Park’. The detainees, rather than accept lengthy jail sentences for their ‘crimes’, gamble their freedom on an attempt to reach an American flag — on foot and without water — through the searing heat of the desert. The pursuit of Group 637 — a lethal, one-sided game of cat-and-mouse with a squad of heavily armed police and National Guardsmen — is contrasted with the corrupt trial of Group 638 by a quasi-judicial tribunal.

DVD extras include a 30-minute introduction by Peter Watkins; full-length audio commentary by Watkins expert Dr J. Gomez, 32-page booklet with essays, reprints and new writing by Watkins. Dual format DVD/Blu-Ray release.

Series

Masters of Cinema

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2005

Year of production

1971

Subjects

Social Studies; Media studies; Politics & government

Keywords

cinema films; young people; dramatised documentary films; United States of America; counter-culture

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£14.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

88 minutes

Year

2011

Distributor

Name

Eureka Entertainment

Email

info@eurekavideo.co.uk

Web

http://www.eurekavideo.co.uk/ External site opens in new window

Phone

020 8459 8054

Fax

020 8459 5162

Address

Unit 9, Ironbridge Close
Great Central Way
London
NW10 OUF

Notes

An independent distributor specialising in releasing classic and early/silent films on DVD, including the Masters of Cinema curated collection of classic and world cinema. Sale via retail outlets.

 

Available from retail outlets