Carlos

CARLOS is a five hour miniseries that has garnered some of the longest articles of praise from the newspapers across the country. Technically speaking that is understandable: the shots of the various countries discussed and the quality of acting from a very broad spectrum of actors across the world is impressive. But the story (or documentary as this is a recreation of many years of revolutionary movements that culminated in a world famous raiding encounter at the OPEC oil ministers conference in Vienna in 1975) wares thin very quickly. Yes, it is somewhat enlightening to follow the development and actions of Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, the Venezuelan revolutionary better known as 'Carlos', who founded a worldwide terrorist organization, finding his goals through hijacking of planes, capturing hostages, arranging talks with some of the major countries in the world. But there is such a sameness to the action that after about 2 hours of the series it is difficult to wait for the central climactic drama. Writers Dan Franck and Olivier Assayas (remembered for 'Paris, je t'aime' and 'Irma Vep' who also directs) may have taken some liberties with facts but they do deliver enough information about the birth and breeding of terrorist groups to give us all a wake-up call.

Édgar Ramírez, a young Venezuelan actor fluent in many languages, is the main reason for watching this epic suspense thriller. He is a major presence and makes 'Carlos' seem like a righteous humanitarian revolutionary - a problem when the details of the real character Carlos are examined. He is able assisted by a strong cast - a few of the main additional characters are played by Alexander Scheer, Alejandro Arroyo, Ahmad Kaabour, Talal El-Jordi and Juana Acosta in addition to many many others. But sitting through he series, especially during the long hours of lack of activity aboard a hijacked airplane with hostages for example, begins to bog down the story. Once the idea of the story is hatched it simply becomes a long song spanning many countries and diminishes in interest. The series is due to open in theaters this week: it will be interesting to see if they play the entire 5 hours in one sitting!

Grady Harp

Ilich Ramírez Sánchez aka Carlos the Jackal, Venezuelan (but educated in communist USSR), was the most notorious terrorist in Europe and some Africa and Middle East countries.

Affiliated with the Palestinian / anti-Zionism cause and justice and equality for the people; he publicly proclaim some of Ernesto "CHE" Guevara's socialist concepts; however comparing these two different characters will be a huge mistake. While the later was driven by ideals and passion; Carlos was mostly moved by his egomaniacal needs of power, notoriety and money.

Olivier Assasyas did a deep historical analysis of Carlos' trajectory during a period of about 20 years. In order to produce a continuity he tied real events from the seventies mid nineties (sme using reel footage others dramatized) with fictional "what if" situations (showing interactions and negotiations with different people and powers). Whatever really happened in those meetings can only be guessed based in subsequent events. The final product is almost perfect. Carlos emerges as a very complex character. He was mercenary, ambitious and power hungry person; very cold but a very smart. He is never shown as a coward but he was not always on the front line either. When he is asked to be killed for "the cause", he states "I am a soldier not a martyr" he states when he is asked to be killed by "the cause". He used people (particularly women) that were easily seduced by his discourse (it seems his sexual life was really over the top) for minor actions but he was there in the most important ones like the OPEC kidnapping. Edgar Ramirez is outstanding as the main character; speaking several languages with ease and convincing in all of them. His charisma stays even when he is doing hideous statements or acts or beating a woman. This movie could not exist without him.

However, this five and a half hours TV mini-series (it can also be viewed in cinemas as three hours movie) is not really a Carlos' biopic but a serious essay about modern terrorism. Carlos was (and he knew that) just a famous puppet. He was an instrument until the end of Cold War; then was kept "protected" by different countries until his knowledge was outdated. After that he was betrayed by his contractors and imprisoned by the French government (he was only judged by the killing of two police officers and is currently serving life prison).

USA FCC censorship will never allow this movie to be shown in public TV as it was in Europe (there is nudity and swearing all over). It is really a pity because young people should see this to understand the difference between fight and manipulation.

I remember watching the full 3 part mini-series some years ago, and being quite engaged. However I'd strongly recommend not watching any of the abridged versions. I had a DVD for the roughly 170 minute version and was left feeling confused and bored. It's hardly made clear why he has become so notourious. Near the he starts a relationship with a woman who out of nowhere has a child with her. Then that ends almost straight away and he has a new girlfriend, out of nowhere. We see him with the Syrians, then a sequence of the Berlin wall falling is shown, and then immediately after we see the Syrians cutting ties with him. If you want the proper experience, see the full 5+ hours of it.

Olivier Assayas, that astonishingly versatile director, has given us a film about Ilich Ramirez called Carlos. I found a lot of pleasure in the details: for example the singalong by Venezuelan and other exiles in a Paris apartment that turns into a bloodbath when the police enter and try to detain Carlos. The nervous hand-held camera work as the mayhem begins is most effective. The center-piece of any film about Middle Eastern terrorism must be the OPEC hostage taking, and this event Assayas depicts very well.

Carlos made me think of the political dramas the Italians used to do so well: The Mattei Affair and Exquisite Corpses by Rosi, The Battle of Algiers by Pontecorvo. I would give it a higher mark if the running time were not so excessive. The truth is that the last thirty years of this man's life have been pretty uneventful, and don't merit the outlay in time.

When you want to make a movie of a notorious terrorist responsible for many innocent lives, it is a very difficult task: If you portray him in a romantic way you will be accused of glorifying an evil man, while if you portray him in a dark light you will be accused of blind fanaticism.

Director Olivier Assayas has managed to strike a fine balance between these two extremes, and thus he recounts the story of Carlos in an objective and cool-headed way which fascinates the viewer from the beginning to the very end. The story begins with Carlos entering the world of terrorism as a young idealist, and ends with his capture at a time when he has become a corrupt and hedonist man. Throughout this time frame, Assayas shows us the story of a man, who despite his horrendous crimes, his life is really intriguing to watch.

Edgar Ramirez is excellent in the central role, but the important thing in this film is that actually EVERYONE in the film is excellent in his/her role: The acting is superb all around, and at some point it begins to feel as if you are watching a documentary with real terrorists on the screen instead of actors. The direction is also superb, with the the pace being constantly fast and coherent.

A great film to watch. 10/10.