The Hurricane Film Analysis

1. An important motif in Norman Jewison’s film, “The Hurricane” is communication. Represented in many different ways, communication is essential to everyday life and to the story of Rubin Carter. Connections between people are both what make the story of Hurricane Carter so inspiring and at the same time so heartbreaking. There are many different symbols of communication over the course of the film. Interestingly enough, many of the important instances of communication take place through the written word. The initial connection between Carter and Lesra is established when Lesra finds Rubin Carter’s book, “The Sixteenth Round.” Over the course of the film, both are connected through letters, photos, and ideas, even though they exist in very different places and times. Communication both links Lesra and Hurricane Carter and destroys Rubin Carter’s connection with the outside world. It is also miscommunication and communication of evidence and facts that send Carter to prison in the first place. Communication both helps connect and disconnect Hurricane Carter with people, places, and ideas important to him.

2. The first symbol in “The Hurricane” is jail. Trapped in the barred walls of the jail cell, Rubin Carter’s prison takes on not only a literal but metaphorical meaning as a symbol of oppression, discontent, and also to an extent racism and the abuse of justice responsible for his entrapment in the first place. A second, important symbol in “The Hurricane” is the written word. Words carry a lot of power, both connecting Rubin Carter and Lesra and trapping Carter in jail for a crime he did not commit. In “The Hurricane” words represent the interconnectedness and connection between people.

3. The court system in “The Hurricane” is chaotic and dominating. Representing an unfair abuse of power, the court is shown as abusive and unbiased. Many of the detectives on Carter’s case attempt to influence the proceedings in the court, manipulating witnesses and evidence to reach a desired conclusion. Though the film only is a representation of an actual story, and it is unclear how much of the story of Rubin Carter is factual, the court is shown to be very unfair. This contrasts sharply with Atticus Finch’s representation of the trial of Tom Robinson, and you are able to see how calm, professional, and unbiased Atticus is. The two trials are very different, but interestingly enough, Hurricane Carter is released and Tom Robinson is still sentenced.

4. A significant theme in both “To Kill A Mockingbird” and “The Hurricane” is the role personal prejudice and racism plays on the justice system. An essential part of law is that justice be unbiased and fair, no matter who is sentenced. This is so significant because of the profound impact a court hearing can have on the life of both the accused and victim. It is shown both in “To Kill A Mockingbird” and “The Hurricane” that justice can and is swayed and influenced by personal opinion and prejudice, often with tragic consequence. Much of the knowledge of a crime depends on who is represented and the ability of the lawyer to fairly explain the facts, though much of the sentencing relies upon the fair and honest opinion of the jury and judge trying the case. In the story of Tom Robinson and the story Hurricane Carter, the role racism takes on the sentencing of the accused (even though both are said to be innocent) takes much more sway than would be fair in an equal court of law.