CAMP X-RAY
US, 2014, 117 minutes, Colour.
Kristin Stewart, Payman Maadi, Lane Garrison, John Carroll Lynch.
Directed by Peter Sattler.
While there was a lot of discussion about internment at Guantánamo, many articles, newspaper reports, it has not featured in many films. This is an inside look at prisoners and guards, a film released in 2014, hopes for the centre to have been closed not being fulfilled.
The film opens with a focus on a man being arrested, Ali, transported to the centre, the audience not knowing whether he was guilty of being a terrorist or not.
A squad of 10 arrive for military service, eight men and two women. The central character is played by Kristin Stewart, soon after completing her Twilight films. She gives a very strong performance, Amy, a young woman who escaped her small hometown in Florida, wanted to do something for her country. She is almost immediately attacked by one of the inmates but is determined to do her duty. One of the duties is to bring round the trolley of books for the prisoners and she engages with Ali. She is not well read and he wants more Harry Potter books. There is some edge in the initial conversations and, at one stage, Ali tosses excrement on her. Punishment is by having prisoners be continually moved from room to room.
The film shows some of the detail of the squad and raises issues of sexual tension, Amy kissing one of the chief guards, then resisting, his getting revenge on her by making her witness the public hosing down of the naked Ali in an outdoor cage, and she reporting him to the doctor in charge. The doctor is played by John Carroll Lynch who says he doesn’t want to be there but is obeying orders.
Ultimately, there are conversations between Amy and Ali. He has hidden a jagged edge in his Koran and threatens to kill himself. The camera focuses on Ali in his cell and his view of Amy looking through the door to the cell.
The film won a Humanitas award and enables the audience to see something of life in Guantánamo, difficulties, amenities, punishments, but no prospect of except at the whim of the American authorities – and it is made clear that they are not viewed as prisoners but detainees and therefore not under the control of Geneva conventions.
1. The title? Guantánamo and its reputation? Its purpose and mission?
2. The images of 9/11? The consequences for the US? The war against terror?
3. Al Qaeda, the arrests in various countries, militarists or not?
4. Guantánamo, internment, the range of characters there, called detainees rather than prisoners because of Geneva conventions? The rooms, basic, the various punishments, shifting from room to room? The library and access to books? The confinement over so many years? Little hope of exit?
5. The military squad arriving, eight men, two women? The briefing, their roles, Amy and the first job, holding down the detainee, her being knocked, injured lip? The reactions?
6. Details of life of the squad, their friendships, duties, meals, issues of sexuality, relationships? Ramsdell and his role, his magazines, Amy kissing him, her change in attitude, his putting her on shower duties with Ali? Her reporting him?
7. The doctor in charge, his role, not wanting to be there, but obedient? Interviewing Amy, her motivations? Her report against Randsdall?
8. The detainees, the angry man, Middle East men, bearded, the Koran? The scenes of prayer? Their being held down?
9. Ali, seen when being arrested, Amy looking at his file, the photos, his injuries? An educated gentleman? The arrest, prison? His interactions with Amy, throwing the excrement on her? The punishment of being moved from room to room? The shower in public, naked in public? His having the knife, in the Koran, his being tempted to use it, the discussion with Amy?
10. Amy, bringing the books, tough and strong, the issue of Harry Potter? Amy not being well read, no idea about Harry Potter? The description of My Antonia? Ali, his reading, University background, his ideas? Amy and the excrement, her reaction towards him?
11. Her duty, keeping the books, talking, sharing the books, the explanation of her life? The naked shower? The discussion about what she had learned during her service in Guantánamo, or not?
12. Amy, her journey, Florida, small town, the animals, the mother and the Skype contact with her? Wanting to leave the town and do some good, the Army?
13. The focus on the conversations between Ali and Amy? Especially the end, Ali with the knife, alone in his cell, the audience glimpse of Amy looking through the window in the door?
14. Stances on Guantánamo, President Bush, Obama? America’s attitude? The war on terrorism, the effect of 9/11? Years of detention for the detainees? The film’s focus on dealing with prisoners? Punishment and human dignity?
15. This film winning a Humanitas award? A humane film?
