William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe 2009

Here is the rephrased section:

William Kunstler was a titan of the 20th century legal world, with a storied career that spanned civil rights activism alongside Martin Luther King Jr. (character) and high-profile defense of the Chicago 8, who faced imprisonment for their anti-Vietnam War protests. When Attica prison erupted in chaos or Native Americans stood defiant against federal authorities at Wounded Knee, they sought Kunstler’s expertise as a trusted advocate. To his daughters, Emily and Sarah, he was an epic hero, whose unwavering dedication to justice had left an indelible mark on the nation.

However, the girls were not around to witness their father’s early glory days. Born in the late 1970s, when Kunstler was approaching 60, they knew him as a lawyer who frequently rubbed shoulders with unsavory characters and condoned political assassinations he deemed necessary. He took on cases that would have been considered unpalatable by many, including representing an Islamic fundamentalist accused of murdering a rabbi, a terrorist implicated in the World Trade Center bombing, and a teenager charged with participating in a horrific gang rape.

By the time Kunstler’s life came to a close in 1995, his teenage daughters viewed him as a conflicted figure, still possessing undeniable charisma, yet having seemingly lost his way. The man they knew was far removed from the courageous icon their parents had idolized.

In Disturbing the Universe: Radical Lawyer William Kunstler, filmmakers Emily and Sarah Kunstler embark on a journey to unravel the enigmatic transformation of their father from a comfortable middle-class family man into a fearless champion who risked everything for his beliefs. The catalyst for this metamorphosis was 1960, when Kunstler, then a married 40-year-old lawyer specializing in estate and divorce cases, bid farewell to his secure suburban life and traveled south to join the vanguard of the civil rights movement.

Over the course of just a few years, Kunstler’s reputation skyrocketed as he took on the high-profile defense of the Chicago 8, protesters charged with inciting riots outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention. In a bold move that defied the judge, Kunstler put the Vietnam War and American racism squarely in the dock. However, this trial would have a profound impact on Kunstler himself. He had once believed the law to be an instrument of justice. Now, he saw a legal system that enabled those in power to exercise social control at all costs, perpetuating their own interests.

As Kunstler (character) witnessed the brutal suppression of the 1971 Attica Prison rebellion, he was jolted into a harsh reality. The film’s devastating archival images and gut-wrenching testimony reveal the state’s ruthless response: tear gas blanketed the yard, gunfire ripped through the prison, leaving 29 inmates and nine hostages dead, with hundreds more wounded. This unflinching portrayal of violence and tragedy sets the stage for Kunstler’s own tumultuous journey, as he grapples with the dual nature of his work: challenging the system while risking his clients’ lives.

Through a tapestry of historical footage and intimate interviews, the film weaves together the complex threads of Kunstler’s critics, defenders, and clients. Some revile him for perceived harm, others credit him with saving their freedom and lives, and still others acknowledge that he fundamentally altered their perspectives on race and politics. This multifaceted portrayal humanizes Kunstler, revealing a man torn between his passion for justice and the weight of responsibility.

The courtroom dramas that punctuate Kunstler’s life were marked by sensational trials and stunning victories, fueling his conviction that skill, passion, and righteousness could persuade anyone. Yet, this very same certitude made him an imperfect father, as his daughters implored him to reconsider representing Yusef Salaam, a 15-year-old black boy accused of participating in the brutal Central Park jogger attack. The media frenzy surrounding the case branded Salaam a monster, only for DNA evidence years later to exonerate him and expose the racism and bias that had led to his wrongful imprisonment.

Kunstler’s own words offer a piercing insight into the darker aspects of justice: “I suspect,” he declares during the Chicago 8 trial, “that more people have gone to their deaths through a legal system than through all the illegalities in human history. Six million people in Europe during the Third Reich – legal. Sacco and Vanzetti – legal. The hundreds of great trials throughout the South where black men were condemned to death – all legal. Jesus, even Socrates – all legal. Tyrants learn that it is far better to do this thing through some semblance of legality than to do it without that pretense.” These poignant observations underscore Kunstler’s crusade against a system that often prioritizes form over substance, as he navigates the treacherous landscape of justice and morality.

The cinematic crown jewel is revealed: Kunstler’s courageous confluence of conviction and compassion, as he dares to defy societal norms by championing the marginalized and oppressed. With a flair for the dramatic, he knowingly courts controversy, yet his actions are rooted in a profound sense of empathy, driven by the understanding that those society deems unworthy of defense are often the most vulnerable. As Kunstler’s personal and professional lives become increasingly entwined with the media spotlight, his complex persona begins to reveal its many facets - the devoted father, the passionate advocate, the calculating strategist. And in the end, it is his daughters who masterfully weave together the disparate threads of their father’s multifaceted nature, crafting a rich tapestry that is at once achingly human and eerily familiar.