Chappaquiddick

Bryon Allen, the producer of Chappaquiddick, said in a TV interview that “powerful people” tried to “pressure him” to “not release this movie.” However, he said he is “not about the right or the left, he’s about truth.”

Many of us remember the incident well. For those too young to recall details, Ted Kennedy was the last surviving brother of the four Kennedy boys. Their ambitious, domineering father (Joseph P. Kennedy, former U.S. Ambassador to England, 1938-late 1940) wanted a son to be President of the United States. Each promising young man, in order of age, succumbed to violent circumstances (Jack and Bobby actually being assassinated). Ted, the youngest, was Joe Kennedy’s last great hope to have a son in the White House. As Senator of Massachusetts, things looked promising for Ted’s presidential run in 1972.

However, on the night of July 18, 1969, the dream disappeared in a puff of exhaust smoke from a 1967 Oldsmobile Delmont 88 that flew off a wooden bridge into a pond. Kennedy wasn’t exactly a great driver. While attending law school at the University of Virginia, he was cited for reckless driving four times, including once when he was clocked driving 90 miles per hour in a residential neighborhood with his headlights off after dark. And, he was given to making questionable decisions. While attending Harvard he was expelled twice, once for cheating on a test, and once for paying a classmate to cheat for him. It would seem that his behavior on the night of July 18 was not too far out of character for him.

Kennedy had hosted a party following an annual Regatta. Attenders were his staff and “the boiler room girls” who worked on Bobby Kennedy’s presidential campaign. Mary Jo Kopechne was 28 years old, idealistic, and pretty. She was a passenger inside Kennedy’s car when it careened off the Dike Bridge that fateful night, hitting the water upside down and immediately sinking to the bottom. Kennedy quickly exited the vehicle, leaving Kopechne trapped inside. He later said that he dove back into the water several times trying to extricate her from the car, to no avail.

Kennedy did not report the incident to authorities for almost ten hours, and Kopechne’s body had actually already been recovered. This is not a good situation in which a presidential hopeful would want to find himself. Scandal seems to be common to politics, but this one involved the unreported death of a young woman—possibly involuntary manslaughter. Did she drown or did she instead suffocate due to a depleted air pocket? How long did it take her to actually die? If Kennedy had immediately reported the accident to authorities, would she have survived the incident? These are questions that come to mind when viewing this film.

When you see this movie, you will draw your own conclusions about Ted Kennedy’s behavior during this incident. The film does not paint a pretty picture of him. He is portrayed as self-absorbed, self-centered, manipulative, a liar, and primarily concerned with saving his career. He shows little remorse over Kopechne’s death. Saving his own skin takes center stage.

Objectionable Language—The Names of God, Jesus, and Christ are misused at least seven times. Kennedy’s wife tells him “F*ck yourself, Ted.” We hear “H*ll,” “Sh*t,” “A*s” “B*tch” and “D*mn” several times each.

Violent Content—Ted angrily wrestles with a man during an argument and is thrown to the floor. Ted’s father slaps his face in anger.

Skimpy clothing—Kopechne talks with a girlfriend on the beach while they both wear swimsuits fashionable for that time period. One is two-piece, no bikinis are visible. Two men are seen in wet underwear after attempting to pull Kopechne from the water.

Alcohol use—There are many scenes of people drinking obviously hard liquor. There are two scenes of people passed out on the floor from drinking all night and many beer cans and liquor bottles strewn about.

Smoking or Drugs—There is no obvious drug use, though there are many scenes in which people are smoking cigarettes.

Sex—No sexual activity is obvious. However, the initial party on the night of the accident is not for husbands and wives. Staffers and “boiler room girls” are together, drinking and dancing. Mary Jo leaves the party with Ted Kennedy, in a suggestive situation, sitting side by side in the front seat of the car. Mary Jo is seen several times talking with Ted in a tender, encouraging kind of way that most Christians would assume to be reserved only for a close husband/wife relationship. “Separate yourselves from all appearance of evil” (I Thess. 5:22).

Disturbing Images—The car crash itself is a frightening image, repeated several times. Several scenes show Kopechne trapped in the car, desperately gasping for breath, crying, and praying. Kopechne’s dead body also is shown several times, once on the bridge when they try to express water from her lungs. These vivid scenes will alarm young children.

Morality Issues—Our Savior said “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’. Anything more comes from the evil one.” (Matt. 5:37). This film presents lie after lie, layered upon lie-filled layer. Some folks would call them cover-ups, excuses, or spin-doctoring. No matter what you call it——a lie is a lie, and the lies in this movie appear like so many cockroaches scattering from the light of truth, to save Kennedy’s neck and political career.

“But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and ALL LIARS, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” —Rev. 21:8

For me, the most disturbing part of the film is the rampant dishonesty. The lying by Kennedy, his family, his aids, his attorneys seems to have no limit and is void of all conscience—whatever it takes to keep him in the Senate. At all costs, any lie is not too big. When Kennedy calls his father for help and advice, the old man, who can hardly talk, utters one word—“Alibi.”

What a profound film. I would highly recommend teens to see this movie, and by all means—youth groups. It is a great opportunity to teach on honesty and integrity. And, perhaps, to look behind politicians backs when they speak, to see if their fingers are crossed.

• Violence: Minor
• Profane language: Moderate
• Vulgar/Crude language: Moderate
• Nudity: Minor
• Sex: None
• Occult: None

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.