WebKittyn Warbles
Thursday, February 03, 2005
The Hamburg Cell
I happened upon this UK movie on cable a week or so ago, the first 15 minutes had already gone by but it looked interesting so I watched it. I've gone back and watched it three times since that first time.
This is a strong movie, I can imagine the ruckus it would cause if it was shown in the US but.... This movie made me cry and think and it is a deep and powerful movie without being preachy.
It takes no sides, it merely attempts to recreate the lives of the 9/11 hijackers as they came together and how it all unfolded. It makes no claim of being factual but there is no reason what happens in the movie *couldn't* have been exactly the way it happened.
It focuses on Ziad Jarrah (alleged pilot of the plane the passgengers took down in PA) and his conversion from normal Muslim student and later husband to militant extremist. The actor who plays Jarrah does an outstanding job, it's almost possible to like the Jarrah character for a while..
The film doesn't spend a lot of time on the actual attacks, it's all lead up to. It shows how they all came to know each other, how they came to embrace extremism and Jihad, how the plots were initially conceived and worked out and right up to the attacks.
Watching it made me feel a ton of emotions and I commend the makers for doing such an amazing job. I would recommend anyone who sees this on cable to watch it, it's one of the best "historical fiction" movies I have ever seen..
Both paws UP to The Hamburg Cell.
<-- Steal me!
