Bobby

Bobby is the story Emilio Estevez passionately and expertly wrote and directed about the events of an ensemble and disjointed cast of characters ranging from the Ambassador Hotel's kitchen staff to a lounge singer to campaign workers; on the day leading up to the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. I recommend this film (that is the quick review for those who are in a hurry).
For the first time that I have seen, the audience in the theater did not stir at the conclusion of the film. With the exception of one couple, everyone sat through the initial credits in miraculous silence. As the assassination of Kennedy grew closer towards the end of the film, the film did grow more tense. The burden of knowledge lay on the audience since we know what is going to happen while the characters do not.

There are quite a few subplots and characters that are neatly brought together up the assassination of RFK and though there could have been fewer side stories to create this fictional retelling, Estevez made them each compelling and somehow people who one can relate to in varying ways, showing how ordinary and possibly extraordinary people lived and were so sadly denied hope when Kennedy was shot.

The emotional impact of this film is quite intense. I was struck by Kennedy's words (actual audio and video footage are woven into the film). The idea that we have made little progress as a nation since then is quite clear. Kennedy's words about violence in 1968 after the assassination of MLK, Jr. echo the issues of today perfectly. It is undeniable and painful to wonder at what the world would be today had Kennedy been elected. Of course we will never know but there is hope that someone will come along again to bring us together, not in hate, but in hope for peace and love...Not to be cliche in using those words together, but we as a nation were brought together for a time by hate on 9/11 and where has that gotten us?