CLEANSKIN

UK, 2012, 108 minutes, Colour.
Sean Bean, Charlotte Rampling, Abhin Galeya, Tom Burke, James Fox, Peter Polycarpou, Tuppence Middleton.
Directed by Hadi Hajaig.

Cleanskin is a topical British drama, drawing on the aftermath of 9/11 as well as 7/7, the terrorist attacks on transport in London in 2005. It also draws on the many dramas about the recruitment of young Muslim men, the role of the manipulative and propagandising clerics (who never volunteer to be suicide bombers), and the brainwashing and training of these young men leading them into action.

There are several scenes of suicide bombers at work, destructively, in London.

The film also focuses on the political situation, the espionage agencies in the UK, and double agents.
Abhin Galeya portrays a young man, intense, studying law, opting out and being recruited by a smooth-talking Muslim leader, Peter Polycarpou, and being trained, experiencing some kinds of doubts when he is given missions in England, especially one of killing a reserve soldier, blamed for killing Muslim children, whose decapitation is filmed on video. There is also a romantic connection, with Tuppence Middleton, which also raises doubts. However…

The focus is also on Sean Bean as a former military man, involved in security work, who is commissioned to track down the terrorists. The commission comes from an agency, an authority played by Charlotte Rampling.

The films timeline is not direct, with several flashbacks to explain how the young man ticks and how he will act as a suicide bomber.

Of interest for those concerned about recruitment and training as well as terrorist activities in the UK.

1. A topical British thriller? Terrorism in the UK? Home-bred terrorists? Recruiting, persuading, training, at home and in Afghanistan and Pakistan? Suicide bombers? Government agencies and personnel? Secret squads?

2. The title, its reference to terrorists who have no previous records and, to that extent, are clean? Ash as presenting the journey of a cleanskin?

3. The time shifts, the present day and the suicide bombing, the setting up of the squad, government investigations, further bombings? The return to 6 years earlier to show Ash, his character, his relationship with Kate, his recruitment by Nabil, his university days and clashes? The return to 3 years earlier, the further steps in his journey, the contact with Nabil, his going overseas?

4. The opening, the official and his sexual encounter, his bodyguards, the trip to the hotel, the terrorists in the car, the police car, the decision to go into the hotel, the confrontation in the foyer, shooting the target, shooting the bodyguard? Mayhem?

5. Ewan as the bodyguard, his past military history, his presence at the funeral, the clergyman and the piety of his remarks, the young crippled man walking out, the presentation of military loyalty?

6. Ewan summoned by Charlotte and the superior, the discussions, the role of the Semtex, government supervision of it? His being dismissed? Charlotte and her sympathy, asking him to pursue the case, appointing Mark as his assistant? The later contact with Charlotte, her cleaning up after the deaths? The irony of the truth about her role, Mark and his attempt on Ewan’s life, Ewan going to see her, her cigarette lighter and the ‘stop smoking’ warning, the evidence of her complicity, Ewan and suggesting that she bowed under the burden, slitting her wrists and her death?

7. Mark, recommended by Charlotte, working with Ewan, the pursuits, the deaths, the shootings, his turning on Ewan?

8. Ewan, the information, the addresses, the death of the man who in fact was an agent, his jacket, finding the key to the locker, the documentation for the media, Ewan confronting Charlotte about this? The further addresses, the confrontation of the man, the petrol, his attack, his burning to death?

9. The role of the prostitute, known to Ewan, his threats to her, her taking him to the house, leaving the door open, the confrontation with the young man, wounding him? His killing her?

10. The suicide bombers, their backgrounds, going into the restaurant after the audience saw the young student talking on the phone? The number of deaths? The media?

11. Ash, his background, studying law, his ideology, clashing with the British student, friendship with Kate, in the pub, Kate’s excesses, his anger and leaving her? His later return, meeting her once again, her telling her story, overdoing it when young, try to settle down, her work? Beginning the relationship with Ash again? The effect on him? His trying to make a decision?

12. Nabil, his role in the Muslim community, recruiting, watching Ash, talking with him, persuading him, the sufferings of Muslims around the world, identifying with “my people”? The other recruits? Sending him on the mission? The banker and the army reserve, the criticism of his torturing people? Going to the farm, pursuing the soldier? One of the group being killed? The relentless and intensity of the leader of the group? Ash not wanting to kill the mother and baby, the leader killing them? His justification? The video of the decapitation of the soldier?

13. Ash, with Kate, with Nabil, deciding whether he would be a suicide bomber or not? His video of his motivations, his explanations? Seeing him go to the function, the target being the right wing leader of the think tank? The wedding? Ewan finding him, pursuing him, shooting him before he detonated the bomb?

14. Nabil, his being deported, his speech and God save the Queen?

15. Governments, elections, policies, the head of intelligence being sacked, new policies…?