Dirty War Discussion Dirty War

Dirty War Discussion

Dirty War

Present day motion pictures about terrorism are typically full of propaganda, as it seems that directors are more interested in the commercial success of their films rather than being interested in the effect these movies have on the public. BBC's 2004 film Dirty War is closer to what a terrorism documentary should be (even though it is a drama thriller), given the fact that it is not necessarily meant to talk about previous terrorist attacks. It focuses on describing the risks people face everyday and on relating to the effortlessness involved in performing a terrorist attack.

Even though terrorism is a form of unconventional warfare, the terrorism discussed in Dirty War is even more unconventional, as it brings forward matters like radioactivity. In addition to describing the severe threat presented by dirty bombs, the film shows how terrorists have little to no difficulties in bringing radioactive materials into the UK.

The public is first taken on a trip from Turkey, to Bulgaria, and eventually to the heart of England, in Willesden, where it is put together into a dirty bomb. By describing the effects the bomb's setting off would have in London, the audience realizes that the emergency services and the people in the city are hardly prepared to deal with such circumstances. The authorities are apparently accustomed to more traditional methods of terrorism and are thus inefficient when it comes to a radioactive threat. Also, people are in most occasions reluctant to act according to what they are told by those in charge of dealing with the hazard. This is also because they have limited capacities of understanding the risks that they are facing in such conditions.

Fanaticism is taken to a whole new level by terrorists and most are convinced that they will become martyrs after committing acts of terrorism. There are a series of motivations behind terrorist attacks, the largest part related to Islamism and to extremist terrorists wanting to do what they think is beneficial for them and their people.

One can take the movie as a wake up call, proof that terrorism is a live threat and that it often ends in disaster, resulting in the deaths of numerous innocent people. Fiction films are generally meant to be a commercial success, and Dirty Bomb is no exception from the rule. However, the film distinguishes itself from other fiction-based motion pictures for the fact that it brings forward constructive information, teaching people how to react when they are dealing with a radioactive bomb threat. Dirty Bomb can be used as educational material for everyone, regardless of their background, since it presents several important factors which are likely to assist people in extreme situations.