After you see Farenheit 9/11 you must see "September Tapes..."

[Obamarama]

Saw this film this weekend. Spoke with the director. See it and understand a little better the mess we're in. Link to clip below.

The first Western production to be filmed entirely in Afghanistan following the fall of the Taliban, September Tapes is a stunning original -- part documentary, part revenge thriller, and all heart wrenching. Director Christian Johnston could not have imagined that his project would ultimately be led, at times, by members of the Northern Alliance or at times by local warlords (who would take them on the trail of Al Qaeda), or that the Department of Defense would review the footage for 13 weeks until finally releasing the majority of it back to the producers. But it should come as no surprise to a film that is anything but expected.

On the surface, this spiraling story is simple: American journalist Don Larson goes missing after traveling to Afghanistan to document bounty hunters looking for Osama bin Laden. Weeks later, Northern Alliance forces recover 18 of his videotapes and a micro-cassette recorder from an abandoned tunnel. September Tapes is the result.

Unlike anything you’ve seen, September Tapes could never be more potent, as the country continues to grip with the realities of a post 9/11 world. Sure to draw authentic emotional reactions, this film is not for all audiences, but sure to move those that can endure its dramatic authenticity.

http://www.septembertapes.com/

[Keebs]

1. It looks

Kind of Blair Witch Trial-y to me. But I'm sure I'll see it none the less.

[Obamarama]

3. It is exactly that, but it has a message....

It clarified for me that our failed foreign policy is responsible in large part for the mess we're in.

[John_H]

8. I wish the marketing schtick were a little more original.

It looks like a pretty good film.

[LittleApple81]

2. Here in the boondocks I will never be able to see this. They have

never found any traces of Larson then? Is he assumed to be dead?

Courage and determination...

[Obamarama]

4. It is not a true story, but it is still pretty amazing...

It is a fictitious story, much like Blair Witch. However, it was actually shot last June/July in Afghanistan in the middle of the war zone.

Other than being absolutely CRAZY to have pulled off such a feat, the director has a definite message to tell: why we're in this mess to begin with.

[Minstrel Boy]

5. Sounds interesting. But you know this is not a documentary, right?

It uses a Blair Witch conceit of "found footage", and like Blair Witch, it's a scripted, fictional film.

From The Hollywood Reporter:

In April 2002, when commercial director Christian Johnston and writing partner Christian Van Gregg completed the screenplay for a movie about an American journalist traveling to Afghanistan to search for Osama bin Laden, the pair didn't comprehend the magnitude of the project they had created.

...

But all of those factors differentiate "Tapes" from so many other cutting-edge independent films debuting at next month's Sundance Film Festival in Park City. The final product offers proof that with the right equipment and a lot of luck, modern indie filmmakers can use cinema as both a storytelling medium and a powerful political tool.

In Hollywood terms, "Tapes" falls somewhere between 1999's "The Blair Witch Project" and 2001's "Black Hawk Down," a hybrid between traditional narrative and documentary. The film posits that U.S. journalist Don Larson, played by British actor George Calil (2001's HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers"), goes missing after traveling to the Middle East to make a documentary about bounty hunters searching for bin Laden and al-Qaida. Weeks later, Northern Alliance forces recover 18 of Larson's tapes and a microrecorder from an abandoned al-Qaida tunnel complex.

While Calil was working from a screenplay, Johnston frequently altered scripted scenarios during the shoot to reflect the reality of situations he and his team encountered. The effect is sometimes shocking: During certain sequences, bullets whizzing by onscreen are actual live ammunition.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/international/feature_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2058516

[Obamarama]

7. Yeah...I know it is not a documentary. Thanks for the link!!

I was looking for that link, actually!

I saw the film this weekend and had an opportunity to talk with Christian Johnston, the director. There is some pretty stunning footage.

[Minstrel Boy]

9. It sounds great. Here's a film I'm pushing: "Liberty Bound"

http://www.libertybound.com/

I saw it at the Toronto 9/11 Citizens Inquiry. Don't know if it's been picked up for distribution in the States. (It is in France!) DVDs are going on sale in July.

[thebigidea]

6. 2 hours of shaky handheld footage? Oh BOY - sign me up for that!

[jeff30997]

10. Just saw the trailer...

And it look like a cool movie.Thanks for mentioning it.