Mark Boal and Zero Dark Thirty

Last Tuesday, I attended an event that was part of The Loyolan’s First Amendment Week, featuring a speech from award-winning writer and director Mark Boal.  

Boal’s most recent film, Zero Dark Thirty, chronicles the massive hunt for al-Queda terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden.  The film has recently come under attack for its graphic portrayal of the torture of terror suspects as well as a misleading portrayal of that torture (many believe that torture necessary in gaining information about Bin Laden).

Though I haven’t seen the film, I enjoyed Boal’s speech and agreed thought he had interesting views on First Amendment Rights.  Perhaps the most noteworthy thing that Boal spoke about was what he believed the purpose of his film was.  He explained that he wanted Zero Dark Thirty to provoke questions, conversations, and thoughts and that his ultimate goal is to make the news more accessible, real, and compelling.   He believes that this film is valuable because it made hundreds of thousands of people aware of a situation that they wouldn’t have been aware of had the film not been made. 

Boal explained that the film stayed true to the essential story.  Many complained that the interrogation techniques portrayed in the film were more brutal than those actually employed and hence accused Boal of defending torture.  Essentially the belief is that because such a large chunk of the film is devoted to showing torture interrogation that many leave the film believing that that torture was necessary in Bin Laden’s capture. To this, Boal said they were missing the point, that every interrogation technique seen in Zero Dark Thirty was performed by Americans as a matter of national policy.  He says that this film doesn’t tell anyone what to think.  Instead, it encourages the viewers to think for themselves and come to their own conclusions.

To be honest, I don’t think I know too much about the film, but here is my take.  I think that the film is suggesting that waterboarding led to the capture of Bin Laden.  The film clearly suggests that waterbooarding aided in getting useful information in leading us to Bin Laden.  Senator John McCain and two Democrats object to the fact that torture was used to obtain key intelligence. 

So what is your take?  Do you think that the film is glorifying the use of torture interrogation techniques? Check out the trailer...