by Cassie Schoon
In 2010, Jeremy Scahill, an investigative reporter, and Richard Rowley, a director, arrived in Afghanistan with a handful of grant money and a desire to document the war that had been raging in the region for nearly a decade. In two years, Rowley and Scahill captured footage that exposed the darkest sides of the war in Afghanistan: civilian deaths, cover-ups, and ongoing vendettas against suspected terrorists like Anwar al-Awlaki. Their work was polished (thanks to screenwriter David Riker) into the 2013 feature-length documentary film Dirty Wars, which will screen at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, as this month’s installment in the International Humanitarian Law film series.
Using in-depth research and candid interviews of political players, Afghan civilians, and other insiders, Dirty Wars paints an intimate portrait of the war and those who closely witnessed its consequences. The film won the Cinematography award at its 2013 Sundance premiere, and was nominated for an Academy Award in 2014 for Best Documentary Feature. Scahill’s investigations in Afghanistan were also the premise for his 2013 book, Dirty Wars: The World is a Battlefield.
The film’s exploration of the War on Terror raises profound questions about International Humanitarian Law, and the experiences of civilians in violent conflict. A round-table discussion of these questions will follow the film presentation. To RSVP to the event, click here. For more information, contact Tim Bothe.
Join our Film Club and Receive Free Gifts and Benefits!
Between November 2015 and April 2016, attend at least three IHL film series screenings and receive a free Red Cross first-aid kit. Attend at least five and be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a Red Cross disaster supplies kit!