Is Redford’s tale cautionary, discouraging or a message of hope? Cautionary in that action against powerful adversaries should never be underestimated and that very careful and long term plans, not hot headed ones, need to be in place. Cautionary in the fact that Utopias do not survive, so if you are fighting for Utopia you will not succeed. Discouraging because the characters in the movie are discouraged about their ability to affect change and alarmed and disheartened that their sacrifices for good causes may have been ineffectual, damning and destructive — the destruction reaching into the next generation so that children have been raised without their parents or may need to grapple with how their parents could have been violent activists. Hopeful in the knowledge that when David and Goliath fought, David won so no matter how hopeless and helpless you may feel there is a means to victory. How it is planned is the key. Sharon Solarz (Susan Sarandon) delivers a poignant message to the journalist Ben in jail. She speaks of the mistakes that were made and the sacrifices she has made but she says with utter conviction and clarity that she would do it all again, just better if she had to, because she believed in the enormity of the wrong being perpetrated by the other side.

Robert Redford says he wanted to tell a story that showed how far a parent will go to protect their child. Today’s activists are parents themselves and all are someone’s child. No work, no food and no way of paying a bill, providing shelter, heath care or good education for one’s family is just as formidable as being sent away to a war that people did not believe in and from which they might never return. Where is the tipping point is hard to know until it is too late.

Redford’s crime drama is a wonderful parable for the troubles of our time and especially those of the United States where the middle class are being pushed to extremes in an economic war that is crippling global economies. Redford is a master at his craft and his latest movie The Company You Keep is a fine example of flawless filmmaking and engaging storytelling. Stellar performances from Julie Christie, Nick Nolte, Bendan Gleeson, Richard Jenkins, Sam Elliot, Susan Sarandon and Stanley Tucci are remarkably convincing. The Company You Keep opens next at Tiff for its North American Premiere and is highly recommended.

-Moira Romano