"Patty Hearst"

There's a revolution going on in this country.

The people have declared war

on the fascist, American government.

The revolution is happening right now bitch

in good ole fascist America.

[Richard] I'm Ricard Brody and this clip is

from Patty Hearst, a 1988 film by Paul Schrader.

Shut up and [mumbles]

Don't move!

Get Down!

[Richard] It's based on a true story of the heiress,

who in 1974 was kidnapped by political radicals

and within the course of her captivity,

joined them.

And took part in a bank robbery and other crimes.

This is Patricia Hearst

[Richard] After being arrested,

she wasn't treated like a victim,

but rather like a perpetrator within fact convicted

and imprisoned for her participation in these crimes.

[Patricia Hearst] I couldn't stand even if I were

free to walk away.

My body's giving up.

[Richard] Schrader's film is from the perspective of

Patty Hearst,

It features her voice over throughout,

as well as her visions, her imaginings, her reminiscences.

And shows how her personality was being broken down

by intimidation, violence, and sexual abuse.

The leader of the group,

the Symbionese Liberation Army,

Played by Ving Rhames in a scintillating performance,

has both terrifying and a charismatic power.

He's the one who,

having destroyed Patty's resistance,

proposes to her that she save her life by joining the group.

Recognizing of course what a propaganda coo it is

that she should take part.

Schrader terrifyingly depicts the power of captors

to destroy a personality and to remodel it to their

own malevolent ends.

But he also does something else,

he shows the incantatory almost religious,

frenzy, that revolutionaries are able to work themselves

and their followers up into.

I am a prophet

[Richard] By her own admission,

at the time of her kidnapping,

Patty Hearst was living a relatively comfortable

relatively easy going life.

And Schrader shows that she comes under the influence

of a charismatic leader,

who may not only spare her life,

but actually in her delusion,

seem to give her some higher purpose.

Yes.

Cause I have been there with the people.

Fought with them.

Touched them.

Fucked them.

Cause they saw God.

[Patricia Hearst] I see him now.

And he say Ving you..

You are chosen to lead the people.

[dramatic music]

[offscreen voice] There's a sporting good's store over

there.