IDFA 2007
Targets: Reporters in Iraq
Maziar Bahari
Canada
2005
47 min
n.a.
At the time when Maziar Bahari made this documentary, over 100 journalists had
already been killed or kidnapped in Iraq. He had worked in the war-torn country
for three years himself, and this documentary contains original footage and
photographs, accompanied by ominous background music and Bahari's voice-over.
Bahari films himself and a New York Times photographer while they are
embedded with the Iraqi police. Afterwards, he interviews the photographer, who wonders whether people use him only for propaganda purposes. Due to safety risks, reporters can no longer move around freely. Bahari interviews several journalists who were kidnapped, among whom Scott Taylor, who reluctantly returns to Iraq to tell American soldiers about his abduction. Bahari proceeds to talk with some soldiers and shows what life is like on their base. Journalist Hannah Allan explains how she used to go to Fallujah to eat kebab; particularly since the heavy fighting around Fallujah in 2004, the safety situation has deteriorated drastically for journalists. Some get kidnapped and even killed by the many insurgent groups, while others end up getting killed by American soldiers at checkpoints. This is what happened to the Italian intelligence officer who arranged the release of the kidnapped journalist Giuliana Sgrena, whom Bahari also interviewed.
embedded with the Iraqi police. Afterwards, he interviews the photographer, who wonders whether people use him only for propaganda purposes. Due to safety risks, reporters can no longer move around freely. Bahari interviews several journalists who were kidnapped, among whom Scott Taylor, who reluctantly returns to Iraq to tell American soldiers about his abduction. Bahari proceeds to talk with some soldiers and shows what life is like on their base. Journalist Hannah Allan explains how she used to go to Fallujah to eat kebab; particularly since the heavy fighting around Fallujah in 2004, the safety situation has deteriorated drastically for journalists. Some get kidnapped and even killed by the many insurgent groups, while others end up getting killed by American soldiers at checkpoints. This is what happened to the Italian intelligence officer who arranged the release of the kidnapped journalist Giuliana Sgrena, whom Bahari also interviewed.
Credits
World Sales
Triplex films Inc.
Triplex films Inc.
Screening copy
Triplex films Inc.
Triplex films Inc.
Director
Involved TV Channel
CBC,
Historia
CBC,
Historia
Cinematography
Editing
Narrator