Meeting Resistance (2007) User Reviews

A poignant insight in to the minds of the resistance in Iraq.

[MrTangent · 10/10 · 10 September 2007]

I recently viewed this film and got to spend a few hours with the directors afterward discussing the film and the general situation in Iraq. The film makers were in Iraq prior to the invasion in 2003 and saw the first signs of resistance forming after the fall of Baghdad. In an attempt to understand this nascent opposition movement they decided to find out who was responsible. They were given an opportunity to interview these "insurgents" after a chance encounter on the street with a person who claimed to be one. After meeting this individual, they were introduced to others who were also resistance fighters engaging in guerrilla war against the foreign occupiers, the United States.

Over the course of ten months they were given unprecedented access to these individuals and, in interviewing them, found that these individuals are not the monsters the mainstream media portrays them to be. Some of them are religious, some of them are family men, some of them are driven by deep nationalist pride. But all are driven by the same need to resist the foreign occupation of their country (although at least one of them was from Syria). This film really puts a human face on the suffering in Iraq and helps narrate a voice rarely heard through the din of U.S. media reporting.

Eye Opening, Compelling, and Essential!

[silverberetta_17 · 10/10 · 20 November 2007]

Meeting Resistance is unlike any documentary I've ever seen. We see the Iraq War from the "insurgency" point of view. I put the word in quotations because technically they are only freedom fighters fighting for their own country. The 2 filmmakers (Steve Connors and Molly Bingham) have gone through great lengths getting interviews with 8 different people on the resistance side, ranging from a Warrior to a Fugitive to a Republican Guard. The purpose of the film is to show the other side of the conflict- while humanizing each and every one of these guys. This is what makes the documentary work. By being up close and getting to know them, we understand their rationale for fighting American soldiers and any other soldiers. We can put politics aside and look at them as human beings willing to die for their land. There are several scenes where they clearly express their hatred of Americans and constantly declare their wish to "send U.S. soldiers home in body bags." Is this disturbing? Of course, but at the same time we realize their point of view. For the first time they are not terrorists, in fact it is the American soldiers that are the terrorists. I encourage any patriot to see this riveting documentary.

Interesting, but incomplete and somewhat deceptive

[SDsZ28 · 6/10 · 19 October 2009]

A very interesting piece for sure. I would stop at calling it required viewing because it lacks context. And the film presents itself somewhat deceptively.

It is important to note that this was the Iraqi insurgency primarily in the mid to late months of 2003, and not what it had evolved into by the time of the film's release in 2006. In fact, the film's final statement was patently untrue by the time of release.

However, the various interviews show many of the rationalizations and motivations behind the resistance forces. Some of them are quite valid, others are absurdly hypocritical. However, what makes them interesting and important is that whether a man fights as an insurgent because he has good cause, or because he is a fool, or because he is evil, he still fights. And understanding the variety of motivations is key to understanding the ways, and difficulty, to overcome them.

This film would have been much better with narration that probed these conflicting emotions and rationalizations. As it stands is probably only good for viewing in an academic setting where intelligent discussion could follow.