Review of Operation Filmmaker (2008) by Hilary D — 03 Mar 2008

How badly do you want something? If you say you want it more than anything then wouldn't you do everything possible to get it? This film makes me question how badly I want pretty much everything I ever said I wanted in life, work, making movies, traveling, relationships.

There is no happy ending in this film. Part of the problem is that I understand the subject's position. Having been to a poor country where they have problems living their dreams because of finances or other circumstances I get that.

I also get how they try to get us to help, and how difficult it is to draw the line of how much you can and are willing to do. The problem with the Iraqi guy is that he was treated like a baby, his mother did everything for him and he expected the rich Americans to do everything for him while he learned about film making.

There are many things about this and his actions that made me frustrated (as well as almost everyone involved in the film)? Yes. If you want something badly enough you will work for it and do what you have to, this kid didn't and wasn't really willing to put in the work.

That's what I got out of it.