Link0007 Reviews

Voices of Iraq (2004)

A revealing window into Iraq

[8/10 · 19 September 2005]

Voices of Iraq allows us to see Iraq through the point of view of those most affected by the war - ordinary Iraqis themselves. Most footage of Iraq on the news consists of footage of bombed-out cars and of grieving widows; Voices of Iraq is a refreshing break from this.

A substantial amount of the film shows Iraqis goofing off in front of the camera, as anyone would do when being filmed in an informal setting. This footage is the most revealing, reminding us that the Iraqs have a sense of humour and are human beings after all, something that is easy to forget when reading about the daily body count after each day's car bombing.

One must wonder at the objectivity of the film, however. The Iraqis shown are almost all pro-American, and despite the film being advertised as 'filmed and directed by the people of Iraq', this covers up the fact that the film has been edited and put together by non-Iraqis. The relatives of those Iraqis killed in air strikes or pro-Saddam Iraqis are noticeably absent from the film. Despite this, the film allows us to see life from the point of view of a long-suffering and long-misunderstood people.

The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello (2005)

A magnificent film

[10/10 · 20 July 2005]

The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello is absolutely amazing, and deserves a huge audience.

The film is set in a world that resembles Victorian England, but different, in that giant mechanical airships are the main mode of transport. Jasper Morello is a navigator who undertakes a dangerous expedition into uncharted territory in order to escape from his plague-addled city. The film has a Jules Verne-like sense of wonder and imagination that is irresistibly appealing.

The distinctive look of 'Jasper Morello' deserves the many accolades which will definitely follow in due course. The characters are rendered in layers of silhouettes, a look which must be seen to be fully appreciated. The design of the airships and of the world in which they float in is masterful.

The combination of Victorian-era story and cutting-edge animation makes for an extremely enjoyable film, one that should be seen by both children and adults.

Grizzly Man (2005)

Not just a morality tale

[9/10 · 17 July 2005]

Some would like to see 'Grizzly Man' as a morality tale, with the death of Timothy Treadwell an example for people not to follow. On the contrary, I see Treadwell as a tragic figure, not someone to be merely ridiculed and dismissed. Like a character in a play foreshadowing his own downfall, Treadwell repeatedly mentions the fact that his close proximity to the bears puts him in serious danger, and that he could be eaten if he is not careful. What Treadwell sees as his reason for existence and his greatest source of happiness ultimately destroys him. Herzog portrays him as he really was, a multi-faceted, complicated man, whose dreams sadly did not conform to our world.

It is fair to say that Treadwell was eccentric and delusional. Treadwell imagined himself as a champion and protector of the grizzlies, when in reality they were in little danger. He saw in his beloved grizzlies an idealised world of love and harmony. All the love and beauty that Treadwell thought was missing from civilisation he projected onto the bears. He was naive and delusional in that he failed to acknowledge the brutality and misery that are constants in our world. It is heartbreaking to see him encounter the half-chewed paw of a dead bear cub. Herzog's narration outlines his more pessimistic view of life and nature, where sorrow and ugliness are constants, not aberrations. Treadwell's violent death would prove Herzog right, adding to the tragedy and sadness created by this film. Treadwell was not a violent or evil man - he just didn't fit into our world. His belief that the world can be made a better place leads to his destruction. Herzog's film brilliantly captures the poignant sadness of Treadwell's death.