The Strawberry Statement (film)

The Strawberry Statement is a 1970 American comedy-drama directed by Stuart Hagmann, loosely based on James Kunen's 1968 non-fiction account of the Columbia University protests. Set against the backdrop of 1960s counterculture, the film follows Simon, an apathetic college student at a fictional San Francisco university, as he becomes involved in campus demonstrations opposing the construction of a gymnasium on contested community land.

Produced during a time of social upheaval, the film blends fictional storytelling with documentary-style elements, featuring a soundtrack emblematic of the era, including songs by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Joni Mitchell. While it won the Jury Prize at the 1970 Cannes Film Festival, the film polarized critics and underperformed commercially, with many critiquing its stylized direction and commercial tone. Over time, however, it has gained retrospective recognition as a cultural artifact, offering a snapshot of the aspirations and contradictions of 1960s youth movements.