Pledge of Allegiance

I caught the preview screening at AFI Monday night. This film was certainly not what I was expecting. I drove there thinking, "Hostile, Saw III, Touristas ... you can make it through the movie Lizzy ... just close your eyes for the parts that gross you out." But this film turned out to be no mere gross-fest. Culled from the descriptions of torture and tactics used on those released or interviewed at Gitmo and Abu Graib, this film weaves a chillingly realistic tale of the plausible, sadistic, and alarmingly unchecked torment; exacted in the name of Homeland Security.

And while the visual content disturbed, more intense was the performance of Lena Bookall; who we watch deteriorate while she masterfully pulls us into her torment and mental dismemberment. Lena, without question, drove this movie ... straight into a crash course with our consciences.

You walk out of this movie and your first thoughts are less on the goriness rather, they lead to questions which ask, "If I hear that this goes on, and see it on the news, why doesn't it get stopped? What can I do to stop it? Am I indifferent because I did not see the suffering for myself? Is it easier to dismiss if we do not see?" The beauty of this movie is, that you WILL see. So intensely that you will believe you are witnessing reality.

When this movie is released, it should be on your must-see list.

• Liz

Below is the Director's note as posted to Sundance and other film festivals as part of the film's info pack. I thought that it was insightful. ----

"Pledge of Allegiance: American Torture Room" is a powerful statement against our country's recent abuse of human rights and a warning to the American people that as our nation's stake in world domination grows larger, the freedoms that we take for granted are quickly eroded in the name of the government maintaining authority. It's politics are frightening and raw. And so I tried to present these observations in a rich and uncomfortable way, bridging the film between political thriller and reality terror, as if Michael Moore had made a horror film with Quentin Tarentino and 60 minutes. The inspiration for much of the film was based on news reports, television specials and uncovered secret torture practices that I learned about over the past few years. I either had to run for office, or I had to make a film. So, like Passolini, I made a film.

The most difficult thing about the making of this movie was the saleability of the final product. We showed the first versions of the script to producers and distributors alike. A lot of big people in the industry loved it, some because of it's politics and others because it wasn't afraid to present the prison and the brainwashing in a gritty and never before seen way (the original script had far more brutal torments than the final film). Also, originally is was to be shot as secret news reel footage. But, the advisors that we had recommended this and that and the final film was altered to be a more narrative, almost genre style film. Some may even call it a horror because it is so horrible. And maybe that's what today's film market demands, an easy to identify film that can slip comfortably into a category for quick sale. But that was not my original intention and I think that this film transcends the genre that the marketplace would like to put it in.

I have to thank my wife Karen who produced this film and also the brilliant efforts of our lead actress, Lena Bookall who did a stunning job. Also, John Forgeham deserve thanks for his performance as the master brainwasher, Mr. Green. John came to us from England (he is a huge star there from his work in "Footballers Wives")and John so loved the film that he did the role for a thousandth of what he usually gets to star in a picture. In fact, so many people came to me during the production of this film asking to be a part of it because they believe in it's message.

It is the most meaningful picture that I have worked on. I hope that it goes a long way."

I didn't know about any of the 'political message' that was behind this going in, it was just another film to me.

It starts off pretty slowly and doesn't really go anywhere. You can safely skip to about 1:12 when you've had enough of the lead actress' wailing. She does do a reasonable job in this to be fair, and is about the only redeeming feature of the piece.

Just to note, whoever the 'great actor from Footballers Wives' is I don't know, but I do know that show is utter trash. It is on a par with Jersey Shore and anything featuring a Kardashian; i.e. vapid and banal.

Were it not for the political message this film would have nothing to say, bar "torture is bad!" The piece looks okay enough. You can tell they didn't have a lot of money but they had enough. Just a shame there's no real story, plot, action, drama or suspense here.

M