ScreenWize

After the irreverent publicity for the film, and the jaunty opening five minutes – complete with dancing Osama animations – Morgan Spurlock (of Super Size Me fame) settles down to a more serious examination of American foreign policy and meets the locals in the countries where the effects of those policies seem to be having the most emotional impact. He travels from country to country in the Middle East, starting with Egypt and ending up in tribal Pakistan, on the clear pretence of looking for Terrorist No.1, but is much more interested in talking to people on the streets and capturing the sights and sounds of their surrounding poverty. Bizarrely, Spurlock wraps his faux-naïve journey of discovery around the impending birth of his own child, reinforcing his obvious point about why we need to make the world a better place.

Throughout the journey Spurlock mixes up the style of delivery of his message, from the flippant throwaway comedy of asking mall shoppers in Saudi Arabia which aisle Osama is in, to the dramatic suspense of following a bomb disposal team in Israel, from on-the-run street interviews in Taliban controlled territory to high production value animation. Taking a cue from Michael Moore - who included a South Park-type history lesson in Bowling For Columbine - Spurlock treats us to a wonderful segment explaining how and why Uncle Sam props up right-wing dictators. “Pimping for Freedom isn’t easy”, he concludes in the voice over to this animated segment, as the Statue of Liberty does a sexy little striptease.

If you’ve seen the posters and the trailer, and think you’re in for a rollicking comedy, you’ll probably be disappointed with the film. The same is true if you’re expecting a deeper critical analysis of the complex politics of America’s involvement in the Middle East. The true power of the film lies somewhere in between, and it engages deeply at times because Spurlock connects with his street subjects, bringing out of them genuine warmth, huge smiles and universally recognizable human desires. What he is really helping to do is unpack our manufactured fear of the otherness of Muslim people in the Middle East.

Teenagers thinking this is going to be fun might enjoy the occasional comic moment and the clever videogame animation of OBL v Spurlock, but will probably wonder what they’re doing watching a documentary with a peace-is-good message. With a bit of luck they may come away with a bit more understanding about some of the dynamics going on in the world.

SW

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Filed Under: Reviews by Simon