Mark Cousins made a voyage to the Kurdistan, Iraq town of Goptapa (click here). The film hit me at so many levels I have to state as profound as this film is I don't completely consent to it, except I know, or I at least think I know why Mark did this.
To begin I had had enough of war documentaries and avoiding stupid films like The Hurt Locker. So, I made a promise to myself I was not going to view anymore documentaries about any war from anywhere. Then, I made this exception. I am glad I did.
I have to start by recognizing the pure genius of Mark Cousins. His very rich life of experiences has come alive in this film. He achieved the most incredible reaches into the human spirit with this film. He has to know what he did here. It is so pure, innocent and wonderful at one level; it is safe to say that nothing like this has been achieved before.
At the end of the film after being enamored with the people and their experiences with Mark at Goptapa I realized the film was made in 2009. Those folks have changed a bit since then and some have grown a bit, but, there is also a continuing civil war in the region. So, becoming attached to the subject of Mark's film is not an option for me. Those folks are in danger, regardless, of this being Kurdistan, Iraq.
This film never intended or edited to provide an appreciation of militias, but, I found an appreciation in it. I thank that militia, for as nearly invisible as they are in the film, for the safety of Mark and his crew even through they had their own security guards. If the local militia didn't consent to strangers in their town during Ramadan I am not sure what would have occurred with this film venture.
The local militia are very trusted by the children. The children love them. But, they are there for very practical reasons and not reasons of war. Let me state that again, "The militia in Goptapa are there for very practical reasons and not reasons of war." Their invisible presence reminded me of the town in Israel where every house has a gun in the closet and it is not unusual for members of each household to band together to protect their interests, including their families.
This is a species of Jackle found in Iraq. The Jackles could be heard at night in Goptapa. The children were in their beds while the Jackles were howling and prowling. Hence, purpose to the militias. The nitch this species belongs to in Iraq is similar to the American Coyote.
Before I criticize any of the content of Mark's work I want to first state the film is delightful. It has so much wonderful content and I am more than pleased these people are safe, somewhat happy and alive to tell their stories and experience "Mark's World." The people are so enriching. Their world so scoured with sorrow and yet they are so brave and wonderfully engaged in their reality. They don't deny it. Their past lives are with them, but, to some extent that is more human than Iraqi or Kurdish, but, also very Muslim.
Mark chose wisely in his location. This was more safe than not within Iraq. The Kurds are less worried about folks from The West than other regions of Iraq. He did exceptionally well in his own bravery in choosing Goptapa.
My only problem with the film, is not the reference to the 'chemical rain' and the days of people suffering from exposure to Saddam's chemical weapons, but, the contextualized history of those deaths are left to justify the invasion into that country by the USA. Mark does not seek to justify it, but, the relief one finds for those people provides that understanding.
What is not contextualized about Goptapa is the very real fact the chemical rain was our fault. The West provided those people with Saddam Hussein and it was The West that ultimately had to remove him.
What also is not contextualized in the reality of Goptapa was the real reason Iraq was invaded by Bush and Cheney. It was not to relieve the suffering of the people, but, it was for the oil.
The exploitation of the future of this land is all too evident. The petroleum industry has plans to build an oil processing facility next to the river. A river I might add that feeds these people with irrigation water. Not just ordinary irrigation water, but, clean irrigation water. This land will eventually be submerged for a reservoir which will take the oil processing plant's future pollution to a new height.
So, while I delighted at the film, the process in creating this masterpiece and it's many emotional highs and lows, there were some real worries about the context of the film and the permission it gives for people that want to find a reason to carry out illegal and immoral wars.
The other aspect of history not covered by a Northern Ireland native was the reality that Iraq's current civil war can be traced back to the empire building of Great Britain. The Brits came into the Middle East and drew lines in the sand. Literally, "This is Iraq, this is Kuwait and may the two never meet on any reasonable and peaceful ground." When the Brits drew lines in the sand they corralled there distinct ethnicities into the borders of one country. It was that reality followed by the "Saddam Hussein Assignment of Power," that now has Iraq torn and waring against itself.
Hussein was put in Iraq to indulge The West it's oil.
I love the film. I have never experienced anything like it and anyone who denies it is unmatched in it's complete indulgence of beauty of the land and the people; are lying. The entire film is indulgent of spiritual beauty of the land and the people. I have never witnessed such profound innocence and joyfulness before.
I thank Mark Cousins for this experience. I thank the people of Goptapa for their wonderful peaceful lives as captured in this film and I thank the children for every bit of innocent beauty they all have compliments of their families and the city called Goptapa. Everyone without exception should see this film. It does have subtitles at times, but, Mark narrates much of this film, even teenagers would appreciate it. Perhaps, it is the innocence of teens that might appreciate it the most in a world of USA performance pressure and early abandonment of their innocence.
To begin I had had enough of war documentaries and avoiding stupid films like The Hurt Locker. So, I made a promise to myself I was not going to view anymore documentaries about any war from anywhere. Then, I made this exception. I am glad I did.
I have to start by recognizing the pure genius of Mark Cousins. His very rich life of experiences has come alive in this film. He achieved the most incredible reaches into the human spirit with this film. He has to know what he did here. It is so pure, innocent and wonderful at one level; it is safe to say that nothing like this has been achieved before.
At the end of the film after being enamored with the people and their experiences with Mark at Goptapa I realized the film was made in 2009. Those folks have changed a bit since then and some have grown a bit, but, there is also a continuing civil war in the region. So, becoming attached to the subject of Mark's film is not an option for me. Those folks are in danger, regardless, of this being Kurdistan, Iraq.
This film never intended or edited to provide an appreciation of militias, but, I found an appreciation in it. I thank that militia, for as nearly invisible as they are in the film, for the safety of Mark and his crew even through they had their own security guards. If the local militia didn't consent to strangers in their town during Ramadan I am not sure what would have occurred with this film venture.
The local militia are very trusted by the children. The children love them. But, they are there for very practical reasons and not reasons of war. Let me state that again, "The militia in Goptapa are there for very practical reasons and not reasons of war." Their invisible presence reminded me of the town in Israel where every house has a gun in the closet and it is not unusual for members of each household to band together to protect their interests, including their families.
This is a species of Jackle found in Iraq. The Jackles could be heard at night in Goptapa. The children were in their beds while the Jackles were howling and prowling. Hence, purpose to the militias. The nitch this species belongs to in Iraq is similar to the American Coyote. Before I criticize any of the content of Mark's work I want to first state the film is delightful. It has so much wonderful content and I am more than pleased these people are safe, somewhat happy and alive to tell their stories and experience "Mark's World." The people are so enriching. Their world so scoured with sorrow and yet they are so brave and wonderfully engaged in their reality. They don't deny it. Their past lives are with them, but, to some extent that is more human than Iraqi or Kurdish, but, also very Muslim.
Mark chose wisely in his location. This was more safe than not within Iraq. The Kurds are less worried about folks from The West than other regions of Iraq. He did exceptionally well in his own bravery in choosing Goptapa.
My only problem with the film, is not the reference to the 'chemical rain' and the days of people suffering from exposure to Saddam's chemical weapons, but, the contextualized history of those deaths are left to justify the invasion into that country by the USA. Mark does not seek to justify it, but, the relief one finds for those people provides that understanding.
What is not contextualized about Goptapa is the very real fact the chemical rain was our fault. The West provided those people with Saddam Hussein and it was The West that ultimately had to remove him.
What also is not contextualized in the reality of Goptapa was the real reason Iraq was invaded by Bush and Cheney. It was not to relieve the suffering of the people, but, it was for the oil.
The exploitation of the future of this land is all too evident. The petroleum industry has plans to build an oil processing facility next to the river. A river I might add that feeds these people with irrigation water. Not just ordinary irrigation water, but, clean irrigation water. This land will eventually be submerged for a reservoir which will take the oil processing plant's future pollution to a new height.
So, while I delighted at the film, the process in creating this masterpiece and it's many emotional highs and lows, there were some real worries about the context of the film and the permission it gives for people that want to find a reason to carry out illegal and immoral wars.
The other aspect of history not covered by a Northern Ireland native was the reality that Iraq's current civil war can be traced back to the empire building of Great Britain. The Brits came into the Middle East and drew lines in the sand. Literally, "This is Iraq, this is Kuwait and may the two never meet on any reasonable and peaceful ground." When the Brits drew lines in the sand they corralled there distinct ethnicities into the borders of one country. It was that reality followed by the "Saddam Hussein Assignment of Power," that now has Iraq torn and waring against itself.
Hussein was put in Iraq to indulge The West it's oil.
I love the film. I have never experienced anything like it and anyone who denies it is unmatched in it's complete indulgence of beauty of the land and the people; are lying. The entire film is indulgent of spiritual beauty of the land and the people. I have never witnessed such profound innocence and joyfulness before.
I thank Mark Cousins for this experience. I thank the people of Goptapa for their wonderful peaceful lives as captured in this film and I thank the children for every bit of innocent beauty they all have compliments of their families and the city called Goptapa. Everyone without exception should see this film. It does have subtitles at times, but, Mark narrates much of this film, even teenagers would appreciate it. Perhaps, it is the innocence of teens that might appreciate it the most in a world of USA performance pressure and early abandonment of their innocence.
