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Bears repeating
by ** (movies profile)
Nov 29, 2007
14
of
17 people found this review helpful
I saw this film in L.A. with the director present for a Q&A afterwards. He said that the film is being distributed to Congress and the administration to view. I'm not sure if that is for them to possibly address the issues at hand or to figure out how to diminish the reality of the film through catchy sound bites (though the director did say that some politicians indicated that they didn't really know what was going on in Iraq).
Yes, the film does cover some familiar territory and replay some now-famous video clips, though juxtaposed with what was actually happening on the ground in Iraq at the time. It is absolutely chilling to see the horrible effects of American military actions in Baghdad while Rumsfeld jokes about and trivializes events there. If nothing else, this film is extremely important for illustrating (through footage) the impact of actions by the American government on the people of Iraq, a perspective we don't generally see. This is not an entertaining film by any means - tedious at times - but it is an excellent overview of events that bear repeating again and again until the American people really get it. Whether or not this film includes new material is not particularly relevant.
Does it present every possible side of a complex situation? No, but then again this is hardly a Michael Moore schlock-umentary - the director intended (in his words) to present the facts so they could be considered by everyone, regardless of their position on the moral, ethical or legal justifications of our attempted occupation of Iraq.
I think this film is important viewing for everyone, though it appears it will screen mostly in 'art houses,' essentially singing to the choir. Make of it what you will, but this film brilliantly adds to the discourse on the criminal abuse of power (and legacy of incompetence) engaged in by the current administration. It does not spend much time on why we got into the war or how we will get out of this mess; rather, it focuses on the bad decisions that brought the situation to where it is now, through a steady, matter-of-fact approach.
As a final note, the film states that the US has already spent about $390 billion dollars in Iraq, essentially to completely decimate it. It is estimated that the 'final' costs of the war will approach $1.8 trillion dollars. Beyond the tragic loss of life and limb for all those fighting the war, I thought of the recent bridge collapse in Minneapolis. It is estimated that our deteriorating infrastructure would cost about $18 billion to shore up. It's clear where the priorities of our government lie.
See this film and decide for yourself. |
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