Can a fugitive lawyer outrun a radical past before his daughter discovers the truth?
In short: In this political thriller, a quiet attorney living under an assumed identity is exposed by an aggressive journalist. As the FBI closes in, he must track down a former militant lover to clear his name, forcing him to confront the heavy, lingering consequences of his radical 1960s activism.
Directed by and starring Robert Redford, The Company You Keep explores the life of Jim Grant, a widowed father and defense attorney who has spent over 30 years hiding his history as a Weather Underground militant. His carefully constructed life unravels when Ben Shepard, an ambitious reporter, connects him to a 1980 Michigan bank robbery and the murder of a security guard. The film, adapted from Neil Gordon’s 2003 novel, examines the moral weight of past choices and the tension between personal survival and the desire to protect one’s family.
The narrative follows Grant’s desperate cross-country journey to find Mimi Lurie, his former lover and the only person capable of providing an alibi. Along the way, the film weaves in themes of journalistic ethics and the fading idealism of the 1960s. Critics offered a polarized reception; while international audiences and some reviewers praised the film’s robust storytelling and performances, U.S. critics were more divided, often describing the pacing as slow or the plot as undercooked. Despite these critiques, the film remains a notable reflection on the courage and cost of political dissent.
Beyond the screen, the film’s legacy took an unexpected turn in 2015. TCYK LLC, the company behind the film, initiated legal action against UK-based Sky Broadband customers, alleging copyright infringement through unlawful file sharing. This move, which involved sending letters demanding settlement payments, was labeled a speculative invoicing claim by critics. The incident highlighted the complexities of digital copyright enforcement, as it was noted that unauthorized sharing could easily occur via a customer’s Wi-Fi without their direct knowledge, adding a modern, legalistic footnote to a story about the long-term consequences of one's actions.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Company You Keep (film)
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