Deep Dive: MLK/FBI (2020)
Film Lens
MLK/FBI is a documentary directed by Sam Pollard that examines the investigation and harassment of Martin Luther King Jr. by J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI. The film uses newly declassified documents and features interviews with historians and figures like Beverly Gage and Andrew Young. The narrative is largely chronological, focusing on MLK's activism from 1955 to 1968, culminating in his assassination.
The documentary includes archival footage of King and emphasizes the FBI's attempts to discredit him through surveillance of his private life. It contrasts the predominantly white FBI with the diverse crowds supporting King. The film notes that not all FBI documents have been declassified, with full access expected in 2027.
Why Watch
- •See newly declassified FBI documents on MLK.
- •Meet key figures like Andrew Young and James Comey.
- •Find out how the FBI tried to discredit King.
Did You Know
•The film premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival.
•MLK/FBI won the Best Documentary Award at the San Diego International Film Festival in October 2020.
•The documentary holds a 99% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 124 reviews.
•The film has a weighted average score of 82 out of 100 on Metacritic from 21 critics.
Perfect For
Civil rights historyFBI investigationsArchival footage enthusiasts