I recently had the pleasure of seeing documentarian Sharon Liese's newest film Seized at the Kansas City Film Festival. I'd been hearing hype about this film for a few months at this point. A professor of mine, Jon Niccum, worked as a producer on the film, several of my classmates had the opportunity to see it at the True/False Film Festival and the Free State Festival, and Liese had recently visited my school to talk about her time as a filmmaker and the two-year process of making the film.
Rest assured, Seized did not disappoint.
In the summer of 2023, the Marion County Record, a small, local newspaper in Marion, Kansas, was raided by police. This raid not only called the local police's respect for the Constitution into question, but also ended in the death of 98-year-old co-owner Joan Meyer, stoking the flames of an already burning tension between the Record and the town of Marion.
Despite the main story being about current owner Eric Meyer, the film chose to follow Finn, a newcomer to the town and the Record. Finn represents the audience in that neither he nor the audience know much about the town preceding the beginning of our story.
When Liese visited the University of Kansas (KU), she revealed that the amount of Finn in the film was a contentious topic among test audiences. Some found him charming while others wanted to see less of him.
This relationship between the viewers and the film characters is an important aspect of the film as there are many who dislike Eric, mirroring the way the people of Marion felt about him and the Record. Eric had a complex relationship with the town due to some of the stories he published in the Record, and he could be a bit crass at times. These attributes made him somewhat of a controversial figure.
Despite the serious subject matter, Siezed was unexpectedly funny. The film reminded me of watching an episode of one of my favorite mockumentaries, Parks and Recreation. It's full of petty town gossip and drama, and reveals how small interpersonal relationships have an effect on wider society. Learning about all the people who played a small role in the eventual raid on the Record was interesting and rewarding as a viewer.
Like Parks and Rec, Siezed is heartfelt in its conclusion. It shows us a group of people who won't back down in the face of those who want to strip them of their Constitutional rights.
Following the screening, there was a Q&A with director Liese, Eric Meyer, and several other crew members. Liese told the story of how she was the first documentarian on the story in Marion after hearing about it from KCUR (local public radio). It took the crew over a year to gain the trust of the town enough for them to agree to be interviewed.
Liese remarked that she hoped that Seized would remind people to be familiar with their rights and know their blindsides. Meyer was surprised by the final product, but happy with it. He was appreciative that Liese and her team came to Marion to tell the story accurately and hoped that the film would honor his mother, Joan Meyer's legacy.
For those invested in this story, Seized will be available on HBO Max later this year.
