For those who live by the Academy Award winners list for their film recommendations, must be quite aware of Zero Dark Thirty, a film about how the CIA managed to encounter America’s greatest evil, Osama Bin Laden. Just a mention of the issue the film bases itself on, is enough to be prepared for a detailed tale of how this encounter came into being spanning across the timeline of the World Trade Centre incident in 2011 to the time Laden was finally killed.
But what seems rather unexpected and yet is not, is the over political narrative the film hoards.
The film mostly goes back and forth between Pakistan and Afghanistan where the CIA had set up operations to further their investigation into finding Bin Laden and prevent further bombings and terror attacks elsewhere. The film’s star character is Maya, CIA’s Intelligence Analyst who gives her all to find messenger Abu Ahmed who she believes will lead her to Laden. Played by Jessica Chaistain, Maya’s character was by far one of the most layered characters I’ve come across in a long time.
Despite many accusations of an unnecessary feminist agenda, Maya’s character didn’t seem overdone to me at all, and deservingly so, Jessica Chaistan won the Academy Award for Best Actress for this role.
Not to forget, the film does have minor stereotypes against muslims in the film. To be honest, the stereotypes aren’t really that pretty but given the narrative of a country fighting a terrorist who is eventually found in an Islamic country, it was quite expected from an American production.
There’s an existing theory that says the film’s release was purposely slated prior to the Presidential Elections, in order to ensure Obama’s reelection. Even if one doesn’t abide by it, the constant political conjectures throughout the film referring to “the president” time and again, does give an upper hand the democratic party.
Overall, it is quite interesting to even ponder over Osama’s killing and to be presented visually, is a treat to the eyes.
The F Word 