Today in class we watched the 1967 documentary the La battaglia di Algeri or the Battle of Algiers and also the 1999 documentary Nach Dem Fall or After the fall. It really demonstrated the role of women as protagonists rather than the victims. Women have always been actively involved in war as nurses and pilots but this was the first time that showed them as fighters. It really raised the question: What is a terrorist? Were these women considered terrorists for placing bombs in crowded cafes or were they fighting for their liberation? Its hard to know if their activities were justified- or in what category I would place them in. There were so many images that were universal- everyone could connect to them on some level. The image of the boy eating the ice cream cone or people just hanging out in a bar, these were everyday activities. By seeing those before the bombings, the act became so much more real. While it was filmed in documentary style, I think it is somewhat absurd in 2003, the New York Times reported that the Pentagon screened this film for officers and civilian experts who were discussing the challenges faced by the US military forces in Iraq. The flier inviting guests to the screening read: "How to win a battle against terrorism and lose the war of ideas". This was essentially historical fiction, not a how to guide to win a war.
No comments:
Post a Comment