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It’s not easy being the younger brother of a former president. Or the younger brother of the former attorney general. Or the son of a former Roosevelt administration official.
For Edward “Ted” Kennedy, though, it’s just part of life in 1969 America. Expectations always have been high, and with his two older brothers now dead following assassinations, the Kennedy mantle has been passed to him.
“What’s it like walking in that shadow?” a reporter asks.
The sky is the limit for this youngest Kennedy, who already has been elected to the U.S. Senate and is now majority whip. Friends and big-money donors even are encouraging him to run for president in 1972.
But all that changes one night in July 1969 – the very night Neil Armstrong and Apollo 11 are heading to the moon. After hosting a party on Chappaquiddick Island for some friends, Kennedy leaves the party with Mary Jo Kopechne, a single woman who had worked on his brother Robert’s presidential campaign. Minutes later, they are speeding down a dirt down, and within seconds, he has driven off a bridge and into the water. Kopechne is killed and Kennedy survives, and his legacy is forever tied to the incident.
The film Chappaquiddick (PG-13) opens this weekend, telling the story of what has become the most-investigated car crash in U.S. history. It stars Jason Clarke (Everest) as Kennedy, Kate Mara (Captive, Fantastic Four) as Kopechne, and comedian and actor Jim Gaffigan as Paul Markham.
Director John Curran and writers Taylor Allen and Andrew Logan said their goal was to make a movie based solely on the facts and one that doesn’t promote conspiracy theories. Perhaps they accomplished that – I’ll let historians debate the details – but I do know they weaved an engrossing story that left me outraged at Kennedy while also feeling empathy for him. The movie shows Kennedy and his father’s legal team working to cover up the facts. It also shows Kennedy working futilely to live up to his father’s enormous expectations as the latter tells him: “You won’t ever be great.”
Here are the details:
Warning: minor/moderate spoilers!
Violence/Disturbing
Minimal. We see Kennedy drive off the bridge, and then divers trying to get the body. We also see officials examine Kopechne’s clothed body. In flashbacks and re-creations, we see Kopechne fight to get out of the car.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
Minimal. We see two women in one-piece swimsuits on a beach. Men strip down to their underwear to try and save Kopechne.
Coarse Language
Moderate. At least 28 coarse words: h-ll 7, s—t 5, OMG 3, d—n 3, a—2, misuse of “Christ” 2, misuse of “Jesus” 2, f-word 2, SOB 2.
Other Stuff You Might Want To Know
I’m a stickler for historical accuracy. This means during any history-based film, I’m asking, “Did that really happen?” I asked that a lot during Chappaquiddick – which isn’t surprising with a story surrounded by conspiracy theories. Questioning the narrative in such a film isn’t a bad thing. It can drive us back to the history books, forcing us to search for the facts.
Life Lessons
Kennedy is a complicated character in Chappaquiddick. At first, he tries to cover up what happened. Then he changes his mind, telling his dad he’s going to do the right thing. Then he changes it back. And then he changes it again. Finally, he changes it again. It’s a modern-day parable with a tragic ending, and it includes life lessons on telling the truth, covering up the facts and deceiving others. What would each of us have done? After all, isn’t denial often our first reaction when caught in sin?
For parents, there’s also a lesson to be learned about placing expectations on children. Kennedy’s ill father is cruel to him throughout the film. It’s difficult to watch.
Finally, let’s not overlook the compromising situation in which Kennedy put himself. He was a married man with children, partying and then in the car with a single woman.
Worldview
Scripture warns us, “You may be sure that your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). If we’re honest, most of us can list an example from our own lives where that happened. Thankfully, though, our personal-and-embarrassing moments aren’t portrayed on the big screen as they are in Chappaquiddick.
Additionally, even the sins we think we have escaped in this world are known by an omniscient, omnipresent God, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). One day, all of us will answer for our sinful deeds.
What I Liked
Clarke is great as Kennedy, masterfully copying the mannerisms, the accent and the quirks. The screenplay, too, is well-written. It’s not easy making a movie when everyone knows how it will end. But in Chappaquiddick, I never lost interest. It is well-produced. Also, hats off to the filmmakers for staying away from a possible Kennedy-Kopechne love story. We don’t even see them kiss. Kennedy’s reaction to his father’s harmful words is enjoyable, too.
What I Didn’t Like
The strong language.
Discussion Questions
- In America, are you more likely to get away with a crime if you are wealthy?
- Should Kennedy’s legacy have been tarred because of Chappaquiddick? If he had told the truth, would it/should it have made a difference?
- Do our sins always find us out (Numbers 32:23)?
- Did the expectations that his father placed on him change your attitude about Kennedy?
Chappaquiddick is rated PG-13 for thematic material, disturbing images, some strong language, and historical smoking.
Entertainment rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 3 out of 5 stars.
