Watch Ruben Salazar: Man in the Middle

Ruben Salazar: Man in the Middle is a documentary film co-produced and directed by Phillip Rodriguez, originally released in 2014. The film revolves around the life and death of Ruben Salazar, a Mexican-American journalist and civil rights activist who was killed during the Chicano Moratorium March against the Vietnam War in 1970. The film is primarily focused on Salazar's career as a journalist, which spanned over two decades and involved working for some of the most prominent news organizations of the time, including the Los Angeles Times and KMEX-TV. Throughout his career, Salazar's reporting and commentary was characterized by his outspokenness on issues of social justice, particularly the struggle of the Chicano community in the United States.

The film uses archived footage of Salazar's interviews, news reports, and public speeches to provide insight into his life and work. Additionally, it features interviews with Salazar's colleagues, friends, and family members, as well as leading experts on Chicano history and civil rights, such as Professor Mario Garcia and activist Rosalio Munoz.

The documentary also delves into the political context of Salazar's life and death. It provides an overview of the civil rights movement in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s, with a particular emphasis on the Chicano Movement. The film highlights the challenges that Mexican-Americans faced in the United States during this time, including institutional discrimination and police brutality.

Against this backdrop, the documentary explores Salazar's death, which continues to be shrouded in controversy and mystery. Salazar was killed on the streets of East Los Angeles during the Chicano Moratorium March against the Vietnam War, after police officers stormed a bar where he and other journalists had been covering the protest. To this day, the circumstances of Salazar's death remain unclear, with some suggesting that he was deliberately targeted by law enforcement.

Throughout the film, Rodriguez skillfully balances Salazar's personal story with a broader exploration of the Chicano struggle for civil rights. He traces Salazar's journey from his early years as an activist in California to his later years as a respected journalist and public figure. The film also captures the energy and enthusiasm of the Chicano Movement through the use of archival footage and interviews with activists who knew Salazar.

Overall, Ruben Salazar: Man in the Middle is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that sheds light on an important figure in American history. The film does an excellent job of exploring Salazar's legacy, both as a journalist and as a champion of civil rights, while also providing an insightful look into the broader context of social and political change in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s. Whether you are interested in Chicano history, civil rights, or journalism, this film is definitely worth watching.

Ruben Salazar: Man in the Middle is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 53 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.2.