Windflowers; The Story of a Draft Dodger
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Adolfas Mekas
John Kramer
Pola Chapelle
Dino Narizzano
Joy Nicholson
Edward Rishon
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Henry Hawkins, a young draft dodger hiding under the assumed name of Paul Ramsey, is once again fleeing from FBI agents after 6 years of moving from city to city. As "Paul" hitchhikes a ride to a new town and a new job, a driver recognizes him from a photo in a local newspaper. Paul flees from the car through nearby fields into the woods, but the driver notifies the police, and a helicopter is dispatched to search the area. Paul is quickly sighted, and two FBI agents and a rookie policeman give chase on foot. As Paul tries to make his way across a stream, the stick he is using for support breaks. The policeman, mistaking the broken stick for a gun, fires, and Paul is killed. In flashback, Paul's tragic past begins to unfold. He meets and falls in love with Julie at a July 4th celebration. Their happiness is interrupted the next day, however, when FBI agents, having traced Paul's whereabouts, force him to flee the smalltown business office where he works. At this point in the film, a dramatization occurs in which a student explains that he opposes the draft because he wants neither to kill nor be killed. The flight resumes. Aided by Julie, Paul escapes from her apartment at night and takes refuge until morning in a basement. Julie is interrogated by the police. In further dramatizations, a working class family express disapproval of draft evaders, and the publisher of a local newspaper and a reporter analyze the social, political, and moral context of Paul's actions. In the morning, Paul accepts the ride that opens the film. The events leading to his death are repeated in a condensed form.
Director
Adolfas Mekas
Cast
John Kramer
Pola Chapelle
Dino Narizzano
Joy Nicholson
Edward Rishon
Maxton Latham
James Hunter
Dave Tice
Todd Everett
Roger Briant
Barbara Vary
Margaret Vary
Tina Stoumen
Henry Calvert
Ronnie Gilbert
William Traylor
Reathel Bean
Harry Gantt
Karl Bissinger
The Brown Family
Adolfas Mekas
Crew
Karl Bissinger
Dave Blume
Skeeter Camera
Pola Chapelle
Pola Chapelle
Jim Hubbard
Adolfas Mekas
Adolfas Mekas
Adolfas Mekas
Jonas Mekas
William Reilly
Bruce Sparks
Kees Van Baaren
Steve Wolfe
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Filmed in New York and New Jersey.
