we went to see "hamburg cell", the last film showing as part of the human rights film festival. it was made for television by britain's channel 4.

the film is about the men who flew the planes on september 11, 2001. it is about how they came to that point in their lives where they were ready to become martyrs. the film was heavily researched and weaves in and out of documentary style by superimposing details from the research and surveillance cameras point-of-view shots.

the film begins in germany in 1996 when some of them first meet. it focuses on one in particular, one who perhaps has some doubt even on the day of the hijackings. it is through him that the film attempts to humanize these men and bring some sort of understanding that these were people not mythical figures of propaganda. to not directly come out with fingers pointing condemning them as evil. rather, a dramatization of historical events.

the things that westerners do not understand about that day is why. why did they do it. what caused them to do it. what was the intended purpose. the film does not focus on a single mastermind plotting the hijackings or brainwashing youths. the film does not focus on a single reason why these men joined together to fight a cause. however it does touch these topics. one character's portrayal was a bit close to demonization but overall i think the film shied away from singling out a person or event as the root cause and for good reason. singling out would be very narrow minded. a few options were presented so that the viewer can form their own opinion on the matter. for there are as many flavors of islam as their are christianity. and there are as many reasons why people do what they do as there are unique fingerprints.

what most people can understand and sympathize with is the concept of brotherhood that is presented in the film. if your colleagues need aid, do you not assist them? that is the call to battle. it is a grassroots effort. there are muslims who are being killed in other countries. will you not do something about it? you have not been directly harmed but you know what is going on. your brothers. if anything, it is the peer pressure of this compelling talk that motivates the men to join together and take action.

what the film does not address in greater detail are the men who oppose the extremist view and leave the group. there are not conversations regarding what is done under the name of islam without the backings of the quran or muslim law. to do so might be more along the lines of a debate and not a historical storytelling. there is a bit of a preachy scene where the main guy's uncle is telling him he is losing his mind and his entire family is worried about his new friends and life focused on jihad. this character also struggles with his wife who is opposed to his jihad obsession as well. to put the context of family and personal relationships into the story was important. it shows that these men had their own struggles to deal with in terms of what is most important to them in life.

the more exposure non-muslims living in the western world have to islam the better. there is so much misunderstanding. it was really made clear to me after the film when there was a debate. more of a brief lecture panel of a few guests. they have these talks at the end of each of the screenings but this is the only one i stayed for. the talk had two who teach at university (the white, learned men of the west) and one muslim. that's basically how it was presented. not another scholar of religious studies or a scholar who is muslim or such. a telecommunications engineer who is muslim and has lived in new zealand for many years and has a daughter. a real attempt at humanizing this guy. no such background given on the two from universities. i think they needed humanizing!

the host of the talk was a little too much for me. she was acting like this film was the greatest ever and had no faults. she would interrupt the men talking to point out some things. i think she could've waited until they finished talking to speak. western women need to learn their place and behave like a good muslim woman. ahahahhahahahaaa. the first man who spoke had nothing worth saying. i have no idea why the hell he was there. the second was better but the muslim was the best of course. i felt really sorry for him once the audience were allowed to ask questions. it just goes to show how little new zealanders know about islam. i felt like i was in the mid-west or something. not that i'm a scholar of religion and could tell you much about any of them but i do not think that all muslims are the same and all are terrorists. that's the impression i got from the audience members who asked questions. but we do know that all christians and straight people and men are the same, don't we? hahahhaaa let's see how many people i can offend. i have yet to meet a straight person who was completely free of homophobia but the same goes for bisexuals too. there i just did it, offended about 55% of people out there. but seriously, think about it, all "born-again christians" are the same: annoying as fuck. yes!, offended 98% now. i can feel it.

in the end, do i recommend this film? yes. do i think more like it should be made? yes. do i think that people should keep abreast of current events, their community, learn another language, do an overseas experience, seek alternate media sources, volunteer, practice conservation and moderation? yes to all. does anyone care what i think? no. i am my own world. when i die my world ceases to exist.

a restaurant that's a fan of antonioni? (1+1=1 quote from "il deserto rosso")