DRONE

Canada, 2018, 91 minutes, Colour.

Sean Bean, Patrick Sabongui, Mary MacCormack, Maxwell Haynes, Joel David Moore.

Directed by Jason Bourque.

It is amazing and the presence of drones in our lives. They can become playthings. They can become weapons. So much photography for films is done by drones. I in the Sky was a British film critical of the work of drones in pursuing criminals in Africa.

The opening of the film has a drone strike. The film introduces the central character, Neal Whiston, played by Sean bean, who with a partner operates covert experiments, targeting drone attack in different countries, even to killing.

However, the main action takes place in house in Washington DC, the Whiston household, grieving the death of Neal’s father, Neal’s wife and his teenage son. They are to sell Neal’s father’s boat. A stranger walks past, comes in, offering to buy the boat, polite and friendly, even making suggestions to deal about the eulogy for his father. He stays for a meal.

Gradually, the truth is revealed. Is a husband and father of the victim seen in the initial drone strike in Pakistan. However, the CIA have been tracking him and are observing him in the house, keeping them under surveillance. Ultimately, there is a confrontation, Neal killing the man who is threatened a bomb in his briefcase – but, on opening, after his death, there is only the photo of his wife and daughter.

There is an unnecessary subplot indicating that the wife is having an affair with Neal’s partner, photographed by the grieving father.

However, the film is highly critical of such covert operations by the CA, the amoral stances, the secrecy – and the dire consequences.

1. The title, the role of drones in contemporary society, in contemporary warfare?
2. The Pakistani sequences, filmed in India? The cities, the people, homes, the drone targets, explosions? Deaths? The recurring flashbacks of the family?
3. The Washington sequences, Neil and his companion, their work, targeting, the drones, the explosions, killing? The contrast with the suburban home, the boat, the interiors? The musical score?
4. The Wistin family, the death of the grandfather, his reputation, Shane’s grief, the suggestion of the Viking ceremony and his fulfilling it? Neil and the preparation of the eulogy? Neil, the secrecy of his work, the CIA, his double life? Ellen, ethnology, cultural openness, life at home, the affair with Gary and her secrecy? Shane, at school, communication with his father?
5. The information about Imir, the CIA and the profile? The CIA agents, tracking him, outside the Wistin house, surveillance, listening in?
6. Imir, passing the house, seeing the boat, the conversation with Neil, the prospect of buying the boat, the invitation to come in, meeting Ellen, meeting Shane? Gentlemanly, his story, Pakistan, Oxford education? His looking through the house? His suggestions for the eulogy, the personal story, memories of the father? The deal? The invitation to stay, the meal and conversation?
7. Neil and his drinking, the comments about Pakistan, the city, treating women like cattle? Imir and his reaction?
8. Neil, the phone calls to Gary, the meetings for the next morning, hesitant on the phone, Gary and his arrival at the door, the discussions? Gary and his relationship with Ellen?
9. Imir, the revelation about his family, the flashbacks, the threat of the bomb in the briefcase? The fight with Neil? The agents coming in? Neil stabbing him? The irony of the photos in the briefcase?
10. The consequences for the family, not shown, Neil and his using of the case, whistleblowing? Shane in the boat with his father? For Ellen?
11. The perceptions on the United States, CIA, the use of drones, targeting, amoral attitudes?