Mark Pfeiffer
Screenwriter
- Joined
- Jun 27, 1999
- Messages
- 1,339
I had an interesting experience when attending the critics' screening of this last week. There is a fairly sizable Somali community in Columbus, and some people from it, along with the Ohio Council of Churches, attended to see for themselves if the "controversy" was warranted.
The general consensus, reported in the Columbus Dispatch article, was that it is a film that may be too painful for many Somalis to watch but the depiction of their countrymen and women isn't as bad as they feared.
In my review I mention that I think it's a minor fault that we don't get the context of why all of those people are attacking the downed choppers, etc., but it doesn't diminish the masterful technical achievements or powerful emotional moments.
I couldn't find the info in the press notes, but some characters are composites. I don't know if the soldier who had his hearing damaged is or not.
The general consensus, reported in the Columbus Dispatch article, was that it is a film that may be too painful for many Somalis to watch but the depiction of their countrymen and women isn't as bad as they feared.
In my review I mention that I think it's a minor fault that we don't get the context of why all of those people are attacking the downed choppers, etc., but it doesn't diminish the masterful technical achievements or powerful emotional moments.
I couldn't find the info in the press notes, but some characters are composites. I don't know if the soldier who had his hearing damaged is or not.