USA: Film 'The War Within' about a Pakistani engineering student who joins a terrorist cell in New York, might raise debate on its sensitive theme

A new film about a a Pakistani engineering student in Paris who is apprehended by Western intelligence services for suspected terrorist activities and then travels to New York City to join a terrorist cell, is on release from Friday (September 30). "The War WIthin", directed and co-written by Joseph Castelo is the story of Hassan (co-writer Ayad Akhtar in his debut performance). Imprisoned and tortured by Western intelligence services, the young man is provoked to action. Following his release he embarks upon a terrorist mission, surreptitiously entering the United States to join a cell based in New York City. "It's impossible to step into this terrain without having that fear. But, you know, try to stick, try to stay true to the fact that we've done our best, we've done due diligence, we've tried to be sensitive, we try to be balanced and we're no way condoning terrorism of any sort. But we're trying to show a picture so that people can have an experience, an emotional experience that reaches beneath the political discourse that has become encrusted on this issue," Akhtar said. In the film, on the morning of the planned attack by Hassan, all members of the cell are arrested except Hassan and the cell's charismatic leader, Khalid. Hassan takes refuge with Sayeed, an unsuspecting childhood friend, who is living the American dream with his family in New Jersey. As each day passes, Hassan finds himself torn between his religious beliefs and his growing feelings for Sayeed and his family. What unfolds is a profound human and political drama as the audience intensely observes Hassan's state of mind as he tries to decide whether or not to carry out his deadly mission. "I had to connect to the way he saw himself, which is in some sense, he sees himself as a hero. And I had to find a way to make sense of that for myself as an actor. So I think that probably was the most difficult thing, being an American, being you know, a New Yorker, and having suffered 9/11, to open up that wound and find a way to work with it," Akhtar explained about the role of Hassan. Director of the film, Joseph Castelo, is concerned that the story of a terrorist who travels to New York City might skew the opinion of New York audiences, who were left scarred by 9/11. He believes it is timely to have made such a film. "I certainly didn't make the film to open old wounds with New Yorkers and the people who have been traumatized by 9/11 in New York and I said to people up front that the film is dark and its disturbing, and I have been very sensitive to that, and if they don't feel like they want to go through that, they shouldn't see the movie. And, I've tried very hard to be sensitive to that," Castelo said. In the film, Nandana Sen makes her U.S. debut as "Duri", the childhood love of Hassan and a vibrant, young woman who Hassan loves but restraints from enter into a relationship with. "It's a film that asks a lot of very intricate questions about rising global crisis in all of its complexity, and it asks all those questions without knowing or giving the answers. It does not take sides because it's not really important to know who's at fault, who's to blame. What is important is to ask questions, public Castelo, meanwhile, is hoping that the film contributes to the discussion on terrorism, motivating people to ponder the causes of terrorism, "jihad" and how such fissures arise in the first place. The film releases in New York on September 30.

ITN Source | October 6, 2005

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