Documentaries

Review of Ghosts of Abu Ghraib directed by Rory Kennedy
rating *****

Watch this film! When you’re done watching it, watch it again with the audio commentary. This is as good as it gets in documentary films.

Anyone with even a cursory understanding of what took place at Abu Ghraib realizes that the soldiers who were directly involved and later convicted were all scapegoats. The fact that the investigations into what took place have not uncovered the truth is unbelievable. The fact that the real perpetrators have gone unpunished is unbelievable.

This was an original HBO film. In the audio commentary director Kennedy states that her original intent was to learn about the physiological makeup up the MPs that were involved in the abuse. Only after she started interviewing them did she realize that the real story was how this whole thing got started, with the finger pointed directly at the White House.

Since none of the people who were really responsible for the abuse agreed to be interviewed, she uses archival footage where government officials like Donald Rumsfeld trip all over themselves trying to lay the blame elsewhere. Not only was torture and mistreatment of prisoners sanctioned by our government, but Bush is still trying to pass laws to allow even greater injustices.

One defense for the mistreatment of prisoners at both Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo has been the claim that these people are the worst of the worst. They are responsible for killing Americans and they don’t deserve any better. While in some cases this may be true, the fact is that fewer than a half dozen people have ever been brought to trial. All of the prisoners at Abu Ghraib who were photographed and were the recipients of the abuse were eventually released without charge. For a more in-depth look at the U.S. military’s record of false imprisonment since the war began read the book Enemy Combatant by Moxamm Begg.

Some ninety deaths have occurred directly by the hands of interrogators both military and by civilian. The longest sentence anyone has received for these deaths has been five months. I hope this film becomes a call to action for congress to do a proper investigation. All they really have to do is watch this film. It’s all laid out for them.

The commentary found on the disc is the best example I’ve seen yet of how audio commentary can enhance the value of a film. Rather than mute the sound or drastically reduce the volume during periods of silence, she lets the film play at the regular volume, only commenting when she wants to make an important point. The end result is a narration that gives valuable insight and adds a whole new dimension to the film.

This film has definitely made it on my best of the year list.

Review of I Know I’m Not Alone directed by Michael Franti
rating **1/2

This film offers a good counterpoint to what is seen on the daily news concerning Iraq and occupied Palestine. Michael Franti, a musician and singer, took a film crew along with him as he visited the streets of Iraq and Palestine. He uses music to gain the trust of the locals who open up and allow him access where few outsiders have been. The result is a clear picture of the pain, fear, and suffering caused by the current occpation of both lands.

After watching the everyday lives of these people you come away with a real sense of appreciation for all that we have here in the U.S. You also see where much of the animosity against the U.S. comes from. More importantly you see how similar the people in these lands are to us. They want peace, opprtunity, and to feel safe just like anyone would. But their lives have been turned upside down by war, violence and a lack of jobs.

Michael Franti’s music and songs are used as the soundtrack throughout the film. He has a certain laid back quality in his voice that comes out best in the studio versions of his songs, which are often played against photographic montages.

This is his first film and it shows in some of the edititing. Several scenes start with silence and then the sound is introduced abruptly as if there was a miscue. Whether this was intended or not, it doesn’t work. The abrupt change from Iraq to Palestine doesn’t work all that well either. The film probably should have just stuck with Iraq. By the time he gets to Palestine it’s pretty much more of the same.

All in all not a bad first effort. It certainly should be viewed by anyone wanting to learn more about the day to day lives of the people of Iraq and Palestine.

The disc comes with several special features including images and an audio commentary.

Shut Up and Sing by Barbara Kopple & Cecilia Peck

Rating *****

This is the story of how a simple quip made between songs snowballed into what became a national campaign against the Dixie Chicks. Overnight the Dixie Chicks were labeled as unpatriotic. Country radio stopped playing the group’s songs; their CDs were crushed by steam rollers. There were death threats. Fortunately, someone was smart enough to capture the whole ugly affair from the Dixie Chicks’ perspective. The behind the scenes footage is candid and well shot. The viewer is a fly on the wall as the Chicks and manager Simon Renshaw plot different strategies for dealing with the growing controversy.

The Dixie Chicks answer critics by putting out a solid follow-up album full of personally penned songs.  Much of the film follows the trio as they write and record songs for the new album all while a firestorm rages around them.

As the album nears completion, the anti Chicks movement threatens to derail their careers. They are forced to cancel or move concert dates because of sluggish ticket sales. Concert venues are forced to add extra security. And they are still faced with the problem of promoting the album without getting airplay from Country radio. DJ’s and radio station managers defend their actions by claiming that they would lose listeners and advertisers if they were to play Dixie Chicks songs.

As the Iraq war drags on and the president’s approval rating plummets, the issue turns into one of free speech. Their album becomes a hit despite the lack of airplay. Veteran film makers Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck have crafted a great documentary. I highly recommend it.

Okay, I’ve listed some of my favorite documentaries. Now it’s your turn.