It is a Brian De Palma film. Like. WOW.
I knew going into the festival I would be seeing at least one film about Iraq. I have seen fictious films about Iraq. Films that claimed to portray reality. I didn't bargain for this.
This was a low budget film by De Palma. I think the figure was $2 million. You couldn't prove it by me and there is something to be said about 'seasoned' film artists and getting the biggest bag for the buck.
The film captures the 'dirty potential' of Iraq. It was adapted from real headlines. One might say that Brian De Palma 'had had enough' of the censorship surrounding this war and he decided to throw a small budget film together to entertain the imagination of a nation excluded from a 'real discussion' regarding this war and its more heinous aspects.
The story takes place with GIs stressed by their own sad reality in a country where language barriers are half the issue of American deployments. These soldiers are isolated from any relief to their circumstances and on prolonged deployments without any reality checks.
The circumstances of the film are more than possible. Where American troops are 'law and order' in a country void of any other authority, there is nothing to prevent abuse of citizens for personal purpose and reward to any soldier.
Despite this being a work of fiction, there was so much potential to its circumstances the audience was completely disgusted with its content. One man was so angry at its potential he stood up and walked out while yelling, "Fuck you, America." One got the feeling he might have been a war veteran.
The 'sting' came at the end of this film where actual pictures of dead Iraqi civilians appear with one being the young girl victim of the film. The ending was very surreal.
It is a film any self respecting adult should attend with an open mind to the 'idea' of its reality. It gave profound credence to priorities to leave Iraq and to leave it to an authority 'of, by and for' the Iraqi people.
Thank you, Mr. De Palma.
