INFINITE JUSTICE
UK, 2006, 93 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Collins, Raza Jaffrey, Jennifer Calvert, Constantine Gregory, William Roberts.
Directed by Jamil Dehlavi.
Directed by a Pakistani based in England, this is a speculation about contemporary terrorism and journalists. It is loosely based on the abduction and execution of Daniel Pearl (which was itself the subject of Michael Winterbottom’s A Mighty Heart).
The film focuses on an American Jewish TV journalist (Kevin Collins) who is in Pakistan investigating financial dealings which he hopes will lead him to the leader of a terrorist movement. He is abducted and held by a fanatical group – and by a British Pakistani, with flashbacks to his and his friend’s experience in an English Christian school where they were discriminated against because of Islam in the 1980s, a reason for their radicalisation.
In the meantime, the American bosses do their best to secure his release. The film flashes back to the journalist’s work in the US and his girlfriend’s trying to persuade him not to go.
There are the expected scenes of torture and the forcing of the journalist to make a video confession, especially that he is part of a Jewish conspiracy.
The film is small-budget, with a short running time, but tells its story and makes its points directly.
1.The title, the war against terror, the code name? President Bush and the war against terror, post-9/11? The change of the title to Enduring Freedom?
2.The contemporary feel, the 1990s, the 21st century, UK, Bosnia, Pakistan, the US? The musical score?
3.The comparisons with the Daniel Pearl story, abduction, interrogation, execution? This story as a fiction? A journalist and his quest, his background, the tips, tapes, mixed motivations, conspiracies, a victim of the go-between?
4.The director, his Pakistani background, Islam, living in the UK? His perspective?
5.The structure of the film: Arnold and the video, in prison, the flashbacks, especially for Kamal and Islam and their background, September 11, London, the Balkans? The intercutting of these times and places?
6.The focus on Arnold, the text for his video, his being unable to complete it, the demands that he talk about the Jewish conspiracy against Islam? His playing chess with Kamal, talking with him? The Muslim authorities, old, stern, fundamentalist? His wanting the interview with the al Qaeda member? The delivery of the tape, the background of his sister and her being killed in 9/11, the visuals of the Twin Towers and the planes, the collapse, his own broadcast? Gail and his life with her? The tension, her not wanting him to be involved? His boss at the network, their discussions, the cassette, the bin Laden authenticity, al Jazeera broadcasting it? Sarah and her ability to decipher the tape, giving the names, giving the historical background, the identities? His being transferred to Washington, Gail’s intervention? His not going, going to London? The interview with the financier brother? His attempts at New York to get in touch with the Muslim leader, his being refused? Kautsky and his interventions? Karachi, his being abducted? The interrogations, filming again? The final attack, his death, his severed head? The impact of his quest and life?
7.Kamal, playing chess, talking with Arnold? Practising Islam, at the school in Surrey, the mat for prayer, the bullies, chapel, the singing the Our Father? Islam and his praying his Muslim prayers? The headmaster and his boorishness? The effect on the boys? The Islamisation of British Pakistanis? Wanting to be the good Muslim? The studies, London, being bashed and robbed? In the Balkans, in the bar, the reaction to the American soldier? The fight? Being ordered out? In Pakistan? The use of the name, to cover money exchanges, the reality?
8.The television network, the boss, the video, his wanting exclusives, his collaboration with Arnold, Gail and her intervention, Arnold going to Pakistan, the interview and his not taking responsibility?
9.Sarah, work, her skills, concern, deciphering the tape, its location, the information about those on it? The consulate in Karachi, the meeting, watching the video of Arnold’s execution?
10.Gail, her grief after her being hurt? His writing the letter to her before she died?
11.Kautsky, the police, the go-between, Jewish background, conversion? Using people, the consulate, the contact, the set-up with the police, the killing of Kamal, cutting the throat of Arnold after he was dead? Severing his head? Motivation – and conspiracies?
12.Insight into the contemporary terrorist situation, the UK and the US, Pakistan? The presentation of the words of politicians? Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, the tapes, al Jazeera? The war on terror? Clashes? Insight into Islam, temperate Islam, fundamentalist?
