The war on terror has an unusual effect on one man in this independent drama. Hassan (Ayad Akhtar) was an engineering student from Pakistan who, while studying in Paris, was one of several Pakistani students arrested by intelligence officers on suspicion of participating in international terrorist activities. Hassan was innocent of any crimes, but it took him hours to convince the authorities of this. By the time Hassan was released, his attitude about the West had begun to change, and in time
he began to identify with the terrorists with whom he had been unwittingly associated. Hassan then renounces his old life, joins a radical group, and illegally slips into the United States with the aim of staging a major terrorist action in New York City. Hassan comes to stay with an old friend, Sayeed (Firdous Bamji), and his family; Hassan has told Sayeed and his wife (Sarita Choudhury) that he's come to New York in search of a job, but in time Sayeed suspects his friend has a different agenda in mind. The War Within was screened as part of the 2005 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
that most wonderful of cinema experiences, one that embraces complexity with both intelligence and an even hand. The DVD only deepens the appreciation for its accomplishment.
You glance at Hassan with sympathy, which is immediately neutralized by the assurance that this man would kill you without a thought in the name of his god. You pray to yours that he'll change his mind.
You just can't believe Hassan can see so much innocent humanity and still choose mass murder. And then Hassan quietly intones "God is great," and you realize he can no longer see them at all.
Castelo, working with a meager budget and few familiar faces..., adroitly turns Hassan's moral and religious struggle into a tension-building experience.
"The War Within" starts with Hassan(Ayad Akhtar) walking down a street in Paris minding his own business when he is unceremoniously snatched by authorities. He is sent to Pakistan under the practice of extraordinary rendition to be tortured about terrorist activities he knows nothing about. Three years later, Hassan
is a changed man. He is smuggled into the United States, as part of a terrorist cell, targeting New York City landmarks. Hassan is assigned Grand Central Station. "The War Within" is a quietly chilling, subtle and stunning movie that takes a disparaging view of the War on Terror while offering no easy answers. Overall, the movie is sympathetic for the vast majority of Muslims who are caught in the middle between the government that automatically suspects them of violent activities and terrorists who pervert their religion for their own nefarious goals. Remember, the surest way to radicalize somebody is to arrest, torture and then place them in the company of fanatics.
November 30, 2006
Walter M.
Super Reviewer
What brings a man to strap explosives to his body and head to Grand Central Station? Definitely a movie that could generate some lively discussion and debate. Passion and conviction depicted without over the top theatrics...beautiful shots of NYC...moral and philisophical questions for contemplation.
I really
liked the late night conversation between Hassan and his best friends son where he tries to, in basic terms, explain what is happening overseas to his 'brothers and sisters'. "What would you do if your neighbors decided they wanted to take your house and force you to move to the backyard? And, they had the police on their side. And then, what would happen if they found there was oil under the backyard and they wanted that too so you had to leave and they had the mayor on their side? What would you do?" Eventually, the little boy says, 'Fight'.
'Your government takes actions of which its people are unaware. But ignorance is not innocence.'
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