On January 30th was the launch on the big screen of “Battle for Haditha” by Nick Broomfield. Incidentally, it was also his birthday, as well as my husband’s birthday (Great and charming people were born on that day including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Gene Hackman, Dick Martin, Phil Collins or Christian Bale).
I had seen the film earlier in January, and I have to say it was extremely powerful. Ambitiously narrated from three different points of view – civilians living in Haditha, insurgents and US soldiers – and putting into perspective the particular story of this event with the general political climate surrounding it, it is definitely a film to watch.
However, I had difficulties watching it to the end, because it made me physically sick, maybe I am just being too sensitive as it had been the case when I read American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis.
Just like Ellis, Broomfield shows us the dark side of events – and in fact simply the reality, as he says himself:
“The exciting thing about making documentaries is that they are about real life. They are spontaneous and out of control. As a filmmaker, you are trying to bring some sense of understanding to very out of control situations. Your ability is to record it all and make sense of it.” (http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/feature.jsp?id=164074)
What disconcerted me was Nick Broomfield’s apparent detachment when talking about the film during the Q&A, but maybe this is simply objectivity… and it works! “Battle for Haditha” is nothing like other documentaries such as “No Man’s Land” or ”Taking Liberties” which are much more engagés.
There is, in the film, a real commitment to depict the humanity of all with equal compassion and/or equal objectivity. Some will argue it is not quite what it comes as, but Broomfield also says that when screening the film in front of each parties all over the world, no one is quite satisfied about the angle which has been taken. Doesn’t it validate Mr Broomfield’s exercise?
“Battle for Haditha” is out in cinemas in the UK now, and will also be shown on Channel 4 later this year and released in America around April or May apparently (around the time at which soldiers involved in the massacre will be tried…)
To know more about Nick Broomfield: http://www.nickbroomfield.com
Tomorrow, I am gonna see “Half Moon”… so watch out this space 
