It is a reality that many people regard most politicians as pursuing their careers from sordid motives of greed and personal aggrandizement. It is perhaps, then, no surprise that today two movies are in release, both of them based on fact, though far from being able to claim historical accuracy.
Chappaquiddick is based on the notorious incident which took place in 1969, involving Senator Ted Kennedy. A likely candidate for the presidency, he was widely touted as worthy successor to his two assassinated brothers, President John and presidential hopeful Robert Kennedy. However, after a party of campaign workers, Ted Kennedy drove off a bridge, resulting in the death of his companion, Mary Jo Kopechne.
In itself, the incident would doubtless have made front page news, but the matter became even more an object of interest when it was revealed that Kennedy had not only left the scene, but delayed reporting the accident for 10 hours. This became even more significant when one of the team which found the submerged car claimed that had he been called within 25 minutes of the accident, he could have saved Ms. Kopechne’s life. The mystery surrounding Kennedy’s actions has never been explained, though it certainly ended his presidential hopes. The film attempts to fill in the gaps
Just how much credence can be given to Taylor Allen and Andrew Logan’s script is debatable, but one thing is certain: it portrays Kennedy in a very negative light, above all concerned only with preserving his ambitions. There is no doubt that the Kennedy family was both rich and influential, so the manipulations of facts and people which the film depicts will doubtless be regarded by many as historical. Whether they are or not, this well made and gripping film, will only serve to foster a deeply cynical attitude towards politicians.
Ted Kennedy (Jason Clarke with a shaky accent), is certainly depicted in a negative way, though again much of what is shown about the man and his relationship with his father is conjectural. However, a comment by Kennedy sums up the film as a whole as well as people’s attitudes towards politics. When it is suggested in the film that Kennedy and those involved have to tell the truth of what happened, Kennedy says, “At least our version of the truth.”
In similar vein, though with a completely different approach, The Death of Stalin presents a version of the actual events following the death of the Russian dictator. However, while Chappaquiddick is seriously dramatic, The Death of Stalin is wildly farcical. Despite that, in many ways it presents a convincing reflection of the political manoeuvering following the tyrant’s death.
Lavrenti Beria, Georgii Malenkov, Nikita Khrushchev, and Vyacheslav Molotov are shown in comical detail, each trying to preserve himself while desperately hoping to fill the power gap. In essence, at least, it is historically well-founded.
The result is a film which manages entertainingly to preserve its comic spirit, despite refusing to shy away from the murderous background of these power-hungry thugs. In its comical take on history, it is a daring and unexpected way to present a version of the truth. As such, it is another film which will reinforce the belief held by many that politicians are only in it for themselves. Now where have we heard that before?
