BLACK HAWK DOWN


US, 2001, 124 minutes, Colour.
Josh Hartnett, Ewan Mc Gregor, Tom Sizemore, Eric Bana, William Fichtner, Ewan Bremner, Sam Shepard, Kim Coates, Hugh Dancy, Ron Eldard, Ioan Gruffud, Jeremy Piven, Orlando Bloom Jason Isaacs, Zeljko Ivanek, Brian Holt, Nikolai Coster- Waldau. Tom Hardy,
Directed by Ridley Scott.

The setting is Somalia, 1992, the civil war and the fighting of the warlords with the use of food supplies as a weapon in the famine stricken country. The film opens with several minutes of exposition explaining the situation. The principal action concerns the American presence along with UN peacekeepers, especially from Pakistan. An opportunity arose for the Americans to go into central Mogadishu with helicopters and ground forces to capture some of the cabinet leaders of the warlord, Aidid What was meant to take a short time with efficient action lasted more than twelve hours with 19 American casualties and a thousand Somalis dead.

Clearly the perspective of this film is American. It is based on the book by the observing journalist, Mark Bowden. The Americans did not inform the UN troops of their intentions but had to rely on their help, that of the Pakistanis, to save the day. The principal Somalis seen in the film are those hostile to the Americans, who attack the troops with sophisticated as well as basic weapons.

The film is a quite painstaking reconstruction of what happened, expertly edited so that audiences will feel that they have been in the middle of the action. The action is the focus rather than the characters, some of whom are quite well defined but most are difficult to identify and keep track of for those who are not quick to note distinguishing characteristics. However, Sam Shepard as the General in charge of the operation stands out.

As a re-creation of a battle, the film is impressive. As a portrayal of American action, it is patriotic with some nods in the direction of the Somalis.

1. A perspective on war in the Middle East in the 1990s? From the perspective of 2001 and the 21st century? Terror, Africa, Somalia, American activities, invasions?

2. The first Gulf War, American consciousness a decade later? The Bush administration? The transition to the Clinton administration? The picture of Mogadishu, Civil War, the warlords?

3. The use of Moroccan locations, for the city of Mogadishu, the streets, the markets, public buildings?

4. The American presence, headquarters, the troops and the accommodation, the detail, rooms, bunks, meals, the feel for the American troops and their morale?

5. Action sequences, the helicopters and the aerial photography, action on the ground, helicopter crashes, street to street fighting, the effect, dangers, errors, the dying, the wounded – the saving of the hand in the pouch? The stunt work, the special effects? The musical score?

6. The director, his abilities and range of films? The extensive male cast, young, at the beginning of careers? Americans, British, Australian? The masculine world (and the one phone call and the wife missing the call)?

7. The initial information on Somalia, the warlords, the place of the United Nations, the warlords and the stealing of the food, the consequences for ordinary people? The battles? The leader, his advisers? The American mission, the planned abductions?

8. The US sending in troops, their preparation, Garrison and his command, the nature of the mission, its extent?

9. Garrison, his role, his aims, the interviews with the captive advisor, our sales, defiance of the Americans? Working with his officers, with the troops? His role of coordination, contact, supervision? The importance of the informant in the car in the street, accuracy of the building for the attack? His continued supervision? The end? Failure aspects? His taking responsibility?

10. The Somalis, the situation, the stealing the food, anti-American stances? Plan, the informant, his hesitation, moving his car, parking in front of the building, the information?

11. The range of the US troops, the cast and audiences able to identify individuals? The minimal characterisation? Interactions? The officer and his interest in peace, helicopter pilots and their activity, discussions? The various commanders, the infiltrator on the ground and his coming back with information? The stern officer and his being mimicked? The young man joining up, inexperience? The soldier in the office, typing?

12. The audience and involvement in the mission, observing, sharing, the fighting, the heroism, turning into a disaster? Judgments?

13. The crash of the helicopter, the deaths, defeat, the rescue by Pakistanis? The relief, regrouping?

14. The mission, achievement or not? The claim of the film as anti-war? The presentation as pro-war, American mission style?