TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE

US, 2007, 95 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Alex Gibney.

An excellent documentary, well worth seeing and pondering. It won the Oscar for Best Documentary, 2007, and its director, Alex Gibney, was also Oscar-nominated for his previous expose film on Enron: the Smartest Guys in the Room.

Taxi is completely absorbing and, at times, appalling in what it shows of American torture in the last six years and in what those in authority have to say. The taxi of the title refers to one driven by a 22 year old Afghan, Dilawar, who was arrested in a sweep in 2002, tortured and died five days later (probably arrested on the say-so of a local or a war-lord wanting a monetary reward from the US). The documents of the examining doctor indicate the nature of his injuries, especially beatings on the legs, and declare that this was homicide. By focussing on Dilawar, his situation, his family and their grief, the film personalises the issues of torture and what Gibney refers to as ‘the momentum of torture’.

Some of the initial interviews are with members of the forces at Bagram, a Russian airbase used as a prison by the US in Afghanistan (which is also shown and is a disgraceful facility). It emerges that several of these men are those who went to court during the Dilawar investigation. Their testimony highlights how ordinary citizens in such circumstances can resort to excessive torture, especially when they have received orders (not in writing) that encourages them to this behaviour and when the details of the Geneva Convention have not been explained to them. As the film progresses (like a detective story), we hear these officers reflecting on their behaviour and its violence and inappropriateness and the consequences of their imprisonment on their lives and careers.

Reference is made to Abu Ghraib with graphic photos and video footage of the notorious treatment of prisoners there. Complementary to Taxi to the Darkside is Errol Morris’ detailed picture of Abu Ghraib, with interviews, Standard Operating Procedure. Explanations of developments and use of particular methods, especially sensory and sleep deprivation and consequences are placed throughout the film.

The darkside of the title (apart from Darth Vader and Star Wars) comes from a statement from Vice President, Dick Cheney, ‘We also have to work through… the darkside… it’s going to be vital for us to use any means at our disposal, basically, to achieve our objective’. Cheney is a frightening presence throughout the film, the power behind the Bush throne. Donald Rumsfeld, with his supremely confident bluff style, is also frightening. These are key figures in President Bush’s war against terror and the film includes several of the president’s seemingly offhand generalisations (which were taken by many as dogma) about who were the terrorists and the imprisonment, especially in Guantanamo (which also features in the film) as ‘the worst of the worst’.

There are interviews with lawyers for the imprisoned as well as defence lawyers for those accused of torture. Meanwhile in the visual background are the generals in Iraq and Afghanistan and the commander of Guantanomo with their gung-ho permissive statements about punishment and interrogations but who have not been sanctioned. On the other hand, there are scenes of an investigation with Senator John McCain? asking pertinent questions about torture, detailing particular methods which are listed on screen several times for the audience to comprehend, and about their legitimacy. The film suggests that it all comes down to definition of torture which authorities can shape to mean what they want it to mean.

The Geneva Convention was a 20th century agreement aimed at outlawing processes of physical and psychological torture. It reminds us that torture is alive and sick in the 21st century.

1.The impact of the film? As a documentary? Relevance? Iraq and Afghanistan? The general relevance about torture? American perspectives on torture?

2.The Oscar, the awards? American recognition of torture issues in 2007?

3.The background of feature films made about Iraq and Afghanistan – and their lack of response by the public in the United States?

4.The work of Alex Gibney, investigative journalist, working like a detective, exploring a murder and unravelling the details, the culpability? The issues of torture, personalising them by the story of Dawalar and Afghanistan? Gibney’s voice-over and his commentary, objective but impassioned? The final interview with his father, his father’s background in interrogations? His stating of principles and perspective?

5.Audiences and their knowledge of Geneva Conventions? As interpreted in the 21st century? The memories of World War Two, atrocities, war crimes and tribunals (and images from Nuremberg)? The American acceptance of the war on terror, the Bush administration and its attitude towards means for combating terror? The philosophies of Dick Cheney? President Bush and his statements? The Supreme Court ruling against torture? President Bush and his easy way of saying that the Geneva Conventions were broad for interpretation? The picture of the hearings, Senator McCain? and his questioning?

6.The issue of torture, the history of torture, the Geneva Conventions, torture in World War Two, the physical torture, psychological torture? The film offering documented lists of acceptable and unacceptable torture? The bashings, use of electrodes, waterboarding? Humiliation, insults, nudity, sexual innuendo and behaviour, cultural tests – especially crass American treatment of Muslims with their traditions, especially towards women? Shouting, sleep deprivation and standing?

7.The film’s comment on the value of torture, the reliability and unreliability of the information got through torture? Interrogations? The CIA officer and his contradicting the value of torture, his use of promises and confidentiality with those being interrogated?

8.The images of Bagran prison, the background of the Russian base, the plant itself, as a facility, the cells? The personnel, the commander? The official visitors like Donald Rumsfeld? The military visitors? The interrogations, the abuse? The comparison with Abu Ghraib? The video details of the torture and humiliation, the photos, interviews and information, the effect on world opinion? On President Bush and his apology?

9.Dick Cheney and his quotation about the use of torture, going to the dark side? His not placing limits? The image of Cheney as the power behind the throne? Donald Rumsfeld, his comments, being misinterpreted, his visits to Iraq and Afghanistan, the genial manner? President Bush and his reading the scripts about torture? Colin Powell and the issues of weapons of mass destruction, his saying he felt humiliated when the information about the weapons was found to be false and got under torture?

10.The presentation of various American officials, the admiral and his denunciation of torture, the various reports, the questions?

11.The legal advice given to the American government, the background of experiments in human endurance and these being used for torture? The professor from Canada and his experiments in sense deprivation? His interviews and his disgust at the material being used for torture?

12.The Dilawa story, making the issue personal, the Afghan background, the images, the people working in the fields, Dilawa and his taxi, the passengers, their being arrested, his being bashed, the photos, his death? The doctors certifying that this was homicide? The presentation of his family, giving them information about Dilawa’s death? Life in Afghanistan? The interviews with the three passengers? The fact that they were betrayed probably by a warlord for an American monetary rewared?

13.The personnel at Bagram, in themselves, ordinary, the way of talking in the interviews, their opinions, their behaviour? The momentum of torture? Their judgments, reflections, their going to jail, the consequences for their lives?

14.The issue of orders, written, unwritten, hints and understandings of permission to torture? The reflections in retrospect? The generals and commanders, their not being charged for any crime?

15.Guantanamo Bay, the British Muslim, his being arrested, his writing a book? His interviews and opinions? His own personal history, in Pakistan, being wrapped, the flight to Guantanamo? The presentation of Guantanamo, the commander, the tours? The people there, isolation, suffering?

16.The lawyers, those defending the people in Guantanamo and their lack of access and human rights? The lawyers for the people accused of torture, their comments on how these people were used by authorities?

17.The cumulative effect, images, reality, variety of opinions, the politicians, practitioners of torture? The role of torture in war?

18.How effective was the film in terms of information and attitudes?