I am not here to argue politics, and I won’t. I am here to recommend that anyone who thinks they have seen all there is to see from January 6th, 2021 to stop right there and, no matter your political stripes, watch the new documentary ‘Four Hours at the Capitol’
Let’s face it, news channels can only run so much video at a time and they also decide which clips from the available footage to use. There is a reason why millions of Americans believe that the insurrection was a “peaceful protest” or an assembly of “patriots,” but after watching director Jamie Roberts’ timeline that includes footage not seen before and plenty of it, along with interviews from actual participants, and some of their victims, there can never be any whitewashing of the horror of that day.
The film is harrowing, disturbing and it is absolutely crucial that people watch every frame of it. It’s not that the rioters, such as a Proud Boys member denying what happened that day, months after the fact. No, it’s that these people are glad that they injured police officers, smeared excrement on walls, and used violence in hopes of overturning an election.
Oh, have I said anything political so far? If you think I have, it’s because you’re watching one of those aforementioned channels. There is no slanted narration nor tricky edits-there is just the cold, hard truth of idiots acting in the most anti-American way conceivable while calling themselves “patriots” and whining of “tyranny.” Please.
If anything, this doc might have been better as a flowing narrative without the nicely framed hero shots given from skillful cinematographers to brain dead thugs. But one supposes that the director didn’t dare not give “both sides” a say. As if there are two legitimate paths of behavior upon which “tourists” mildly disagreed.
This film will go in a time capsule of sorts, but don’t wait for future generations to uncover this shame of our nation. Find out for yourself.
‘Four Hours at the Capitol’ is currently streaming on HBO Max