VICE and the Criterion Collection Present: Haskell Wexler on ‘Medium Cool’

In 1969, Medium Cool blew people’s minds because it was one of the first films to purposefully blend fact and fiction. Renowned cinematographer-cum-filmmaker Haskwell Wexler crafted a visceral, cinematic snapshot of the city of Chicago in turmoil during the riots surrounding the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

In this interview, Wexler’s reveals the power, oppression, and egos he was up against both creatively and politically in making one of Hollywood’s most prescient films. It also shows that Haskwell Wexler was—and always will be—a badass.