The War Within (2005)

It seems there are No Easy Answers to the Problems that are Addressed in this Low-Budget Indie. Forget any Pat Explanations about the Whys or the Whos or the Whatevers in this most Political, Religious, Cultural, Topical, Divisive Thing called "The War on Terror" or any of its Implications. There just aren't Any.The Film is an Intimate, Personal, Character Study of a Pakistani Suicide Bomber and His Interactions among Life-Long Friends who are Americanized and "Comfortable" making the Immigration to a Country that the Bomber Blames for Many Unforgivable Things.His Boyhood Friend poses a Question as they are Eating in a Restaurant..."Look around, there are Jews, Christians, and Muslims all living together, what's wrong with that?" An Ideal that is as Simplistic as it is Profound. What Indeed is Wrong with that?But when the Loss of Loved Ones at the Hands of "Others", Religious Indoctrination, Dogmatic Text, and Torture are in the Makeup of the Mind, it All just Doesn't Bode Well and is a Template for more Hell than Harmony.This Film manages to be Engaging and is well Crafted and given its Limitations, is a Noble Effort, but just don't Expect anything Satisfying. Such Powerful Truths about the Human Condition are a Never Ending Struggle to Comprehend.

THE WAR WITHIN is a profoundly disturbing movie while at the same time a film that should be seen by as wide an audience as possible. Wearing blinders in an era when terrorism is such a threat does not make fear go away. Learning the mindset of those who perpetrate terrorist acts provides some invaluable insights that may, just may, reduce the schism between factions that in reality are simply separate groups with profound beliefs and fears.Hassan (Ayad Akhtar, who co-wrote the script) is a Pakistani, American-educated youth in Paris for graduate training when he is abducted in the streets of Paris as a suspect dissident. Transported to Pakistan and incarcerated in a small cell with another victim Khalid (Charles Daniel Sandoval) the two survive brutal interrogations and torture at the hands of Americans for information they do not have. The story then jumps three years forward, finding a radically different, bruised Hassan returning to America hidden in a ship's container. His experiences have changed him to a religious Islamic devotee and he joins a terrorist cell in New Jersey to take part in terrorist suicide bombings of New York City. Hassan visits his dear friend Sayeed (Firdous Bamji) and his family and sister with whom Hassan, though attracted, cannot pursue for religious reasons. The family notes Hassan's mental changes and grows concerned for him, eventually finding out about his terrorist intentions.The inner workings of the terrorist cell bring much light as to the religious drive toward martyrdom, and slowly we begin to understand Hassan's motivations and convictions - a fact that allows us to find compassion for a soul driven to acts of violence and extinction. It is terrifying but at the same time desperately moving.The film's script is multilingual with subtitles when English is not spoken, but there is a major problem with the soundtrack in that much of the dialogue is so soft or whispered that it simply cannot be heard - and the dialogue is important. Director Joseph Castelo paces this dark story well, allowing the inner thoughts of each of the varied characters to emerge gradually. The cinematography is appropriately toned and the acting is absolutely first rate. THE WAR WITHIN goes beyond the realm of a terrorist story and personalizes the individual wars within each of us in this time of global chaos. For one of the first times we are allowed to see how sensitive young people can metamorphose into suicide bombers, and observing that transformation is heartbreaking. A brilliant little film and one Highly Recommended. Grady Harp

I always love reading reviews of anti-American movies by anti-American Americans who will almost always claim a movie is "brillaint" and "needs to be seen" just as long as the story has a string of anti-Americanism in it.America is bad! Bush is evil! The world would be a better place without America in it! The only thing missing from "The War Within"? Poor Muslim children being beaten with clubs by Evil American CIA agents. What, don't you know? All CIA agents are eeeeeeeeeeeeeevil. Why, if it wasn't for America and the CIA, the world would be one big happy village! A regular campfire where we could all roast marshmellows and whatnot.Remember, kids, Muslims Good, Americans Bad! CIA Evil! Bush dumb! Brilliant!

This movie was scary and amazing. It made me realize that we are all immigrants in this beautiful country. And it made me proud to be an American. The Pakistani-American family in this movie are so beautiful. They looked beautiful and they made me feel like they could have been my own family. It made me wonder about my own friends. I can't comment on the politics. Some days I feel like I know exactly what my president is saying and I believe him. Some days I feel like I want to kick him. But whatever the truth is, as far as the politics goes, the bottom line is this movie showed the destruction of a beautiful family for no fault of theirs. And that was so compelling to watch. I highly recommend this movie for all Americans. It will make you remember that ALL our parents came over here to find something better for them and theirs.