January 20, 2008

A Mighty Heart, by Michael Winterbottom

Daniel Pearl was born of Jewish parents. He fell in love with Cuban-American, Marianne, and both got married. Both worked as Journalists with the Wall Street Journal. They were amongst the thousands of reporters who headed to Afghanistan after September 11, 2001. After spending considerable time there, they then went to Pakistan, with a visibly pregnant Marianne, the country that on one hand was allied with the U.S. for it's 'war against terrorism', and on the other hand was responsible for the creation of Taliban and hosting training camps for Al Qaeda. The two hook-up with fellow-journalist Asra Nomani of Indian descent. When Daniel goes off to interview Sheikh Gilani and does not return nor answer his cell phone, a frantic Marianne asks for assistance, which comes forth initially in the shape and form of Pakistan's CID Chief Javed Habib, followed by FBI, and American embassy personnel. What results is media frenzy, the locals blaming the Mosaad for the September 11 attacks, as nearly 4000 Jews did not show up for work that day; that Daniel was CIA/Mosaad Agent, and that Asra was an Indian spy. The Pakistani Interior Minister went on record to criticize Daniel for probing into unknown territory, not keeping his Jewish background secret, and blaming his disappearance on Indian spies, while the western media quickly announced his death even though the deceased was an Iranian student. Watch what happens when investigations lead to the discovery of a camcorder which may provide the last and perhaps the only clue to the whereabouts of this missing journalist.

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