Review of Zero Dark Thirty (2012) by Ana B — 01 Oct 2013

Based in the true events leading to the killing of Osama Bin Laden this film shows us the endeavours of the young intelligence officer that found him, Maya. For a few years she followed every single lead until she managed to locate the very secretive residence of the terrorist leader but then she had to convince her superiors to act on it. Lots of information is thrown at us in what it looks as a very well researched piece of cinema but while it is a reasonable approximation it is not entirely accurate. All sort of clues, witness accounts and telephone numbers are extracted mostly through torture. The first part of the movie is all about water boarding, sleep deprivation, beatings and physical and mental abuse, not very easy to watch if you consider that that sort of interrogation technique happened regularly in real life. The second part is more about the developments of the investigation, telephone taping and following of suspects. The very last half hour is the siege of the Osama Bin Laden's compound by a Special Operations Team.

It is an interesting movie that sheds some light into the working system of the CIA and the complexities of the corridors of power in Washington. However some scenes are really harsh and the overall idea that the end justifies the means is too medieval for me. I am not entirely comfortable either with the message of the film: "there's no other course of action but executing this individual", there are always democratic options, maybe less popular but fairer in my view.