A film that asks, in the wake of 9/11 and the US focus on terrorism, the question "How much personal freedom would you be prepared to lose in order to be safer?". It then explores two similar scenarios, one in China and one in the US.
The central question of this movie, would you trade personal freedom for more safety from terrorism?, is a very interesting one. The question is asked at the outset, so I was immediately drawn into the discussion, thinking it would go somewhere profound.
Initially the film does appear to go down a path where this question will produce some interesting answers. We see that basically, in the wake of 9/11, suspected terrorists in the US are treated no better than a suspected criminal in a fascist totalitarian regime.
However, that's it. What follows is two interrogation scenes played out in the US and overseas that continues to emphasis this, but not provide any real solutions or answers. It all becomes very predictable, very quickly.
Ultimately, quite disappointing.
The central question of this movie, would you trade personal freedom for more safety from terrorism?, is a very interesting one. The question is asked at the outset, so I was immediately drawn into the discussion, thinking it would go somewhere profound.
Initially the film does appear to go down a path where this question will produce some interesting answers. We see that basically, in the wake of 9/11, suspected terrorists in the US are treated no better than a suspected criminal in a fascist totalitarian regime.
However, that's it. What follows is two interrogation scenes played out in the US and overseas that continues to emphasis this, but not provide any real solutions or answers. It all becomes very predictable, very quickly.
Ultimately, quite disappointing.