As I’ve grown older and it’s dawned on me that what’s going on in the world of governments and politics isn’t just a boring hour or so on TV a couple of times a day to be endured till decent programming recommences, I’ve learned that, along with matters of a religious nature, political discussions are usually safest from a spectator’s point of view as opposed to an active participant’s. Unless you have strong beliefs you feel will make a valuable contribution to the discussion, that is.  Oh, and are fully prepared to stand by your convictions, armed with solid facts and a cool head in the face of the inevitable opinions to the contrary.

As ignorant of politics as I was when small and sitting patiently enduring the evening news hour, even I couldn’t deny that sometimes something clearly worth getting passionate about went down. This was mainly down to the fact that by the time I was aware enough of my surroundings to know when the good programmes were on, the UK (where I grew up) was in the midst of political uproar. It was the first time I’d seen adults express their feelings this vociferously and publicly; rare in Britain back then. Something big was going on.

Now I’m an adult myself (so they keep telling me anyway), I know that what was going on at the time was indeed very serious. Margaret Thatcher at the centre of the miner’s strikes. Riots and unrest. People who’d worked side by side all their lives divided over their rights as workers versus the need to provide for their families.

As many of you are US-based, all this may seem a bit off-topic, but very recent events in the States and the subsequent reactions of the public show one fact it’s impossible to ignore; political convictions= impassioned people. And when driven by passion, who can tell what they’re capable of?

Who is Amos Otis? takes that train of thought thundering straight through the station and out the other side without stopping. At first glance, it seems to be a quiet courtroom drama, more low-key than most, yet still not an unfamiliar theme. Written, produced, and directed by Greg Newberry, it’s a film adaptation of his play (which partly explains the absence of florid cinematography, though this adds weight to the impact of what’s to follow).

Set in 2020, it stars Josh Katawick as Amos, a mysterious man about whom nobody can pin down any facts, who’s assassinated the US President following a presidential election. Jason Johnson (Rico Reid) is Amos’ court-appointed attorney, from whom we learn that the curiously un-named President was a divisive man; the nation are either dancing in the streets in jubilation or rioting and looting the vicinity mercilessly.

The significance of this as well as the year in which the film was set won’t escape the sharp-eyed viewer; that passion that politically polarised views can ignite? Here’s the spark with the potential to do just that. There’s no middle ground; you’ll either celebrate its boldness and honesty or condemn its simplicity and brazenness.

At the outset nothing is given away; just Who is Amos Otis? Fear not, as all the truth (or is it?) behind him, as well as one or two possibilities surrounding those of mankind itself are only just beginning to unfold.

Whether you applaud or abhor it, this is a viewing experience designed to ignite strong feelings in either direction. Some will find Who is Amos Otis? ludicrous and inflammatory; to others it may be horrifyingly plausible. I found it clever and thought-provoking, but which side will you be on?

9 out of 10 Days In Court