The Search for the Captain

Erin McEnery, daughter of former Mayor Tom McEnery of San Jose, CA, does a most credible job with her documentary on Thomas Fallon, who once was Mayor of San Jose. The film actually deals with the controversy surrounding the placement of a 16-foot bronze statue of Captain Thomas Fallon in a prominent downtown square of San Jose. The statue commemorated the raising of the American flag and California's inclusion into the U.S. during the Mexican-American war. Citizens opposed to having the statue placed downtown claimed Fallon was a "murderer", yet not one shot was fired when the flag was raised. Erin describes the true story of how San Jose handled the controversy surrounding the treatment of the city's history. Her personal connection seems to be an asset and she tells this story with humor and insightfulness. It's a delight to watch, especially for native San Joseans.