Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with our spy dubbed Psychedelic, for obvious reasons... he's clean-cut and always wears a 3 piece suit. He hit the totally straight town of Las Vegas for this year's CineVegas Film Festival. I went to CineVegas the year BUBBA HO-TEP premiered and had a blast. One of these years I'll have to go back. Thankfully, Psychedelic was onhand to witness the next flick from Michael Winterbottom. Enjoy his look at THE ROAD TO GUANTANAMO!
Hey Harry and Fellow Cinefiles,
Here at CineVegas 2006 at Brenden Theatres in the Palms hotel, I’ve discovered a fantastic film. I very much admire Michael Winterbottom from Britain. His diversity of films is invigorating. From 24 Hour Party People to In This World to Code 46 to…I could go on, but it seems like there’s no genre or cinematic form he can’t command. If there was any question before, there is no doubt now he is one of the foremost and exciting directors in the world. The Road to Guantanamo is a magnificent accomplishment that will stand out as one of the best of this year and probably of this decade.
In matter of fact terms, it presents the true story of three British Muslims who went traveling to Pakistan, then Afghanistan in 2001. Eventually they were detained in Guantanamo Bay for years without trial or legal representation before cleared of all charges. There is no soapbox preaching or politicizing. Dramatic recreations of the events are punctuated with modern interviews with the young men. These are not lame TV crime show recreations, but dramatizations on par with City of God that feature the real people to whom it happened. (Note: I just found out online that, in fact, actors portray them all. The movie is that convincing.)
It’s slightly slow paced at the beginning establishing them, but insanity drops with the bombs and the journey becomes harrowing. In one memorable scene, supposed subversives are packed like sardines into a shipping container, like ones semi-trucks attach to their rigs. They have trouble breathing so some soldier shoots bullets holes in the metal. Some prisoners die of gunshot wounds, starvation and/or dehydration on the several day journey. One of the British Muslims speaks of trying to push away a wet, slimy body below him. What did they do about going to the bathroom?
Upon reaching Guantanamo they’re numbered like dogs and kept in outdoor metal fence cages. Guards holler at them if they talk or try covering from the sun. United States soldiers apply witch-hunt interrogation tactics. The nonsense logic of the questions would be hysterical under other circumstances. Aside from not being starved to death, tattooed with a prisoner number, worked to death, and thrown into gas showers, it sure feels like a Nazi concentration camp.
I was filled sadness, eyes brimming with tears at one point. To say I’m ashamed by my country is a vast understatement. I wish I could fall to my knees before the former prisoners, apologize, and beg forgiveness.
Between the superb United 93 and this film, a wretched portrait of our times is painted using colors of blind hate. The Road to Guantanamo is the Schindler’s List of our decade and I implore every American to see it.
-Psychedelic
