William Kunstler: Disturbing The Universe

Kunstler’s two daughters decided to air intimate bounce-on-the-knee moments about their often overworked, rabble-rousing dad through their many reel-to-reel recordings. The sisters’ shared voices in the documentary Disturbing The Universe slants from reverent requiem to posthumous guilt tripping. The film bears evidence that the infamous lawyer’s trot for justice was full of contradiction, though noble nonetheless. The elocutionary orator will keep many a future legal idealist coming to theatres, using the film as a starting point to read his case studies. A good percentage of the masses will amass (at least come the DVD release) to soak-up this quintessential freedom fighter at his best and most defenseless.

To this day his name echoes in judge’s chambers and courtrooms, from downtown criminal to Supreme. There has not been a legal darling/demon (depending on which side of the aisle you sit) greater than William Kunstler. Cigar-gnawing journos lauded him for his wit, brash cross-examinations and invective closing arguments. His press profile is unmatched to this day because the shaggy mad scientist-looking counselor gave voice to so many of the voiceless and also ceremoniously repped some of the most craven criminals.

A quick once-over of Kuntsler’s legal output and you immediately know nothing was too taboo or too high-profile for him to decline. He lent his services to reputed mafiosos, rapists, cop killers and even terrorists. But he also was the lead defense for Native Americans and embattled protesters, and he stomped for the Civil Rights Movement. Yet the Daughters Kunstler admit, “Dad’s past gave us nightmares.”

Kunstler made himself a populist symbol when he stood-up for prisoners in Attica in 1974, an action incited by the poor conditions suffered by prisoners at the state correctional institution. He fought for Native Americans in the Battle at Wounded Knee—even got the insurrection case thrown out of court and shamed the government’s misuse of authority and force. But Kunstler made his bones defending so called riot inciters during the 1968 Democratic Convention. The “Chicago Eight” trial brought out the lion in Kunstler. So determined to fight for his beliefs he did a stint in the slammer for contempt of court. Arguing his utter shock for his Black Panther client Bobby Seal, who was bound and gagged in the courtroom, Kunstler countered, “I feel utterly ashamed to be an American and to be an American lawyer in this court.” He fought for flag burners exercising their Constitutional right.

There were less farsighted cases. Legal eagle Alan Dershowitz became a skeptic. “I think he sometimes went against the principles he argued and articulated,” he jabs. Only Kunstler can explain repping the now-deceased Dapper Don John Gotti, then head of the Gambino crime syndicate, and arguing for blind Egyptian Sheikh Moussa Drammeh after the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The cases he took on toward the end gave others more ammunition to defame him. And the now frown-up daughters recall the haste when they walked outside their Greenwich Village townhouse to jeering protesters or found bullets in the mailbox.

The film is narrated by Emily and with her collaborating sister Sarah. They walk back through some difficult stretches and talk to their step mom and some of Kunstler’s old foes. In interviews Kunstler faces the firing squad of questions mostly unfettered. He’s always on: eloquent and principled. The two daughters utilize this film to channel their dad’s spirit and uncompromising pursuit of justice. But they’re also producing a tributary goodbye, trying not to vilify. They’re disappointment is noted for the record but the greater aim is to accept their father despite the many career suicides and fatherly faux pas he committed.

Distributor: Art House Films
Directors: Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler
Producers: Emily Kunstler, Sarah Kunstler, Jesse Moss and Susan Korda
Genre: Documentary
Rating: Unrated
Running time: 85 min.
Release date: November 14 NY/BOS