History Colorado showing award-winning film “1971”

History Colorado will host a special screening of the award-winning film “1971” from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. After the film, a discussion will follow covering questions of privacy in an era of government surveillance.

The documentary tells the story of eight ordinary citizens who broke into a Philadelphia-area FBI office, took hundreds of secret files and shared them with the public. In doing so, they uncovered the FBI’s vast and illegal regime of spying and intimidation of Americans exercising their First Amendment rights. Despite searching for the people behind the heist in one of the largest investigations ever conducted, the FBI never solved the mystery of the break-in and their identities remained a secret, until today.

The story is told through a combination of exclusive interviews, rare primary documents from the break-in and investigation and national news coverage of the burglary with dramatic recreations.

After the screening, a discussion panel will explore the controversial issues highlighted within the film, including the right to privacy and the extent of the government’s surveillance from recent history to today. Included on the panel will be special guest Sarah Davidon, daughter of Bill Davidon, an important subject in the film.

To reserve a spot at the showing call 303-866-2394. Admission is $4 for History Colorado members; $5 for nonmembers.

For more information about the event, go to www.historycolorado.org/event/1971-special-film-screening. For more about the film “1971” go to www.1971film.com/#.