Free Republic

During World War II, Frank Capra made a series of films called "Why We Fight" to rally Americans behind the war effort. Imagine a filmmaker doing that today. Actually, it's impossible to imagine. Hollywood either prefers to stay away from the war on terrorism altogether (the film version of Tom Clancy's "The Sum of All Fears" changed the villains from Islamist extremists to neo-Nazis) or to use it, even in its pre-9/11 form, as a morality play to warn against lost civil liberties (see "The Siege," starring Denzel Washington). The film community — whose exquisite sensibilities are routinely outraged by...

During World War II, Frank Capra made a series of films called "Why We Fight" to rally Americans behind the war effort. Imagine a filmmaker doing that today. Actually, it's impossible to imagine. Hollywood either prefers to stay away from the war on terrorism altogether (the film version of Tom Clancy's "The Sum of All Fears" changed the villains from Islamist extremists to neo-Nazis) or to use it, even in its pre-9/11 form, as a morality play to warn against lost civil liberties (see "The Siege," starring Denzel Washington). The film community — whose exquisite sensibilities are routinely outraged by...

At the end of the remarkable Voices of Iraq there is a revealing moment. In order to go out on a high note, the film shows a young woman saying "many things in the past barred our future; now there is hope." Then a number of people talk about their hopes including two adorable children who tell the camera what they want to be when they grow up. One says "Engineer," but the other is suddenly tongue-tied. As the camera zooms in on him, his friend whispers: "Say ‘doctor’." "Doctor!" says the other, instantly obedient to the prompt. The film-makers...

Two former MTV producers have accomplished what the entire mainstream media thus far has not: they’ve captured the real life and times of the Iraqi people. They didn’t do it alone, however. Producers Eric Manes and Martin Kunert sent 150 digital cameras into Iraq this April with very simple instructions: “Videotape your neighborhood, shopping area, where you live and work, pray, relax, and play” and interview “people who have the most meaning in your life.” (See the entire instructions here.) The cameras were passed on to friends and family members, and the handheld devices eventually made their way to the...

I just received a copy of Voices of Iraq from NetFlix. It appears NetFlix has ordered a custom-produced batch for their customers, so I would expect an ample supply to be available.

Two former MTV producers have accomplished what the entire mainstream media thus far has not: they’ve captured the real life and times of the Iraqi people. They didn’t do it alone, however.  Producers Eric Manes and Martin Kunert sent 150 digital cameras into Iraq this April with very simple instructions: “Videotape your neighborhood, shopping area, where you live and work, pray, relax, and play” and interview “people who have the most meaning in your life.”  (See the entire instructions here.)The cameras were passed on to friends and family members, and the handheld devices eventually made their way to the Shia...

A new documentary is nearly ready to be released, and I think it is a must-see. Made in Iraq in a very unique way, it documents the current Iraqi situation through the eyes and voices of people throughout the country. There is a six minute clip on their website www.voicesofiraq.com that I found very moving.

At a time when shrill political diatribes dominate the documentary scene, along comes an authentic work that dares to let the subject speak for itself -- literally.