A MIGHTY HEART
US, 2007,108 minutes, Colour.
Angelina Jolie, Dan Futterman, Archie Panjabi, Irfan Khan, Will Patton.
Directed by Michael Winterbottom.
One of the highest profile foreign journalists abducted in recent years is Daniel Pearl who worked for the Wall St Journal. This tribute, memoir and picture of the investigation into his disappearance in 2002 is based on his wife's memoir and dedicated to his son, not yet born at the time of his death.
Directed by Michael Winterbottom (his In this World and Road to Guantanomo have already shown his credentials for work on films from this part of Asia) has directed the film, focusing strongly and at a rapid pace on the details of the search and tracking down of leads. This background to diplomacy as well as counterterrorism holds the interest. An extraordinary amount of effort went into the five weeks of search, utilising the resources of the US Consulate, the local Pakistani authorities and international intelligence offices. Pearl was abducted in Karachi after he and his wife had spent time reporting on Afghanistan, especially the bombing of the Taliban forces after the events of 11th September, 2001.
Dan Futterman (actor in The Birdcage and writer of the screenplay for Capote) portrays Daniel Pearl. The film has to make him a congenial character for the audience very quickly. He and his Frenchborn wife (who has Cuban background) are preparing to return to the US via Dubai. He takes up one more lead to get to speak with a Sheikh who allegedly can give information about the Afghan situation. He takes a taxi, waits outside the restaurant rendezvous and disappears. To strengthen the impact of his character and that he was a truthseeking journalist (and a mighty heart), there are flashbacks to his courtship and marriage.
There are re-enacted glimpses of the customary videos that kidnapping groups circulate showing their captives and getting them so speak propaganda.
While Daniel Pearl is central to the plot, the focus is on the mystery and the anxiety for his wife, Mariane. She is six months pregnant – and the screenplay inserts a flashback where they discuss the name for their baby, Daniel suggesting Adam, which the boy was eventually called.
Angelina Jolie plays the role of Mariane full throttle, accent and all. While Jolie is always a strong and commanding presence on screen, she is able to blend with the supporting cast and not dominate the film. When Pearl does not return from his meeting, she phones anxiously and soon the house is a nerve centre for the investigation. She appears on television and makes appeals to the abductors. She follows through for the weeks, relying also on some of her newspaper contacts.
When she finally (and suddenly) receives the news of Daniel’s execution, she has a scene of grief, tears and cries that is very powerful. She also appears again on television where the interviewer insensitively questions whether she has watched the execution video. The film shows media people as victims of terrorism, but also has victims of the media pack who show little sensitivity as they rush and bully towards getting their story.
When she gathers together those who had worked so had to find Daniel, she makes a speech at the end which rightly focuses on all the victims of such abductions, Pakistanis as well as foreigners, as this 21st
century phenomenon of war continues.
1.A 21st century story? Terrorism? The East? Asian uprisings and battles? The presence of America? The role of journalists? Abductions? Executions?
2.The film as a memoir by Mariane Pearl? A tribute to her husband? Her perspective on the experience? Her love for her husband, her pregnancy, the birth of the child? The film dedicated to her son?
3.The background of Middle East and Eastern uprisings and wars? Afghanistan? The American bombings? The post-9/11 experience? Pakistan, Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden hiding? Difficulties in Karachi? The streets, the popular city, the vistas of the city, the traffic, the people? Interiors, wealthy homes and centres? American headquarters? The musical score?
4.The structure of the film: the linear development of Daniel Pearl and Mariane, preparations to leave for Dubai, the arranged meeting, Daniel going to the meeting, his disappearance, Mariane’s response, the work of the United States officials, Pakistani officials, the police? The insertion of the flashbacks, especially of the wedding?
5.Daniel Pearl as an ordinary man, the Wall Street Journal, his skill in his work, his contacts, daring, the risks that he took, his telling the truth? His marrying Mariane? His Jewish background, not being religious, but not denying the background? The symbolism at the wedding, Jewish, talk of Buddhist spirituality? Daniel Pearl as a symbol of free journalists, abductions, torture, executions, videos of executions? His imprisonment, the videos, the code words, affirming his Jewish background, his attempts at escape, the interpretation that he was Mossad, CIA? The description of the final video – Mariane not wanting to watch, the audience not seeing it – only his face and words?
6.The fateful day, getting ready to leave, packed, Mariane at home, the supermarket, the phone calls, Daniel in the taxi, waiting at the restaurant, taken?
7.Angelina Jolie as Mariane, her screen presence, subdued? Pregnant, a strong woman in herself, the different racial backgrounds? Her own journalist work, her range of friends, connections? The phone call at the supermarket? The night, her anxiety, calls to the consulate? Asra and her friendship? The various links, people? Asra making a chart of all the connections? The taxi driver and the witnesses? The Islamist connections? The mystery about the middle men? The man quiet about his sources, Mariane’s anger and appeal?
8.The picture of the US personnel, from the Wall Street Journal, from the local consulate, the FBI and the woman in charge? Their personalities, work, support of Mariane?
9.The film’s detail of the processes, the editing and pace? Attention to detail, phone calls, emails, false leads? The local police? The captain, his team? Personnel?
10.The five weeks of work, the false leads, the dead body – and its not being Daniel Pearl? The glimpse of the man being tortured? Pakistani methods? Mariane and the TV interview – and the congratulations of the Americans for her skills?
11.Mariane and her coping, a strong character, continued hopes, tireless?
12.The final news, the drama of her cry and weeping, the shout? Her not wanting to watch the video ever?
13.The dinner of thanks, the people arranged there, her speech? Their contribution?
14.The media hounds, Mariane at the television, the obtuseness of the interviewer asking about the execution video? The critique of media harassment?
15.The birth of Adam, the years passing, Mariane back in France, her work? The dedication of the film?
