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Film Review: “Persons of Interest”

Reviewed by Paul McBreen

“Persons of Interest” provides a perspective that has been completely lacking in the three years since September 11, 2001. The film’s plot is composed entirely of interviews with individuals who were arrested and jailed following the terrorist attacks, or with family members of victims of the post-attack sweeps. Personally, the stories made me ashamed of US policies and increasingly livid at the extent to which the executive branch of the US government has overstepped its authority.

The treatment described by the detainees is as anti-American as kingship. No charges relating to terrorism were levied against any of the imprisoned; at least one was charged with overstaying his visa and was deported. Some were kept in solitary confinement for months on end; most family members were completely ignorant of their loved ones’ whereabouts. One man, now deported, resorted to a hunger strike in order to gain access to a telephone. For another, who was working at the 59th Street Bridge with his construction crew, the experience of having his hands cuffed behind his back in view of his co-workers amounted to unspeakable shame, only to be compounded by unjust imprisonment.

Much of suburban American seems oblivious to the suffering of thousands of people because of these unjustified arrests. Instead, racism and misguided nationalism cause many to point to the severity of the attacks themselves as the justification for arbitrary arrests. Several of the interviewees are actually US citizens, but not the preferred Caucasian type. The manner in which “agents” approached the homes and workplaces of detainees reminds me of the stories of Gestapo raids in Nazi Germany. Tips from concerned citizens allegedly led to many of the arrests and interrogators played roles which seem like Third Reich caricatures, however unfortunately real. It was chilling to see one elderly gentleman engage in role-playing to portray the attitude and demeanor of his interrogators.

“Persons of Interest” is both the title of the film and the Department of Homeland Security’s euphemism for those Middle Eastern types whom the department determined needed to be interrogated and incarcerated. The human detention industry is alive and well in America and the terrorist attacks certainly provided supply for the demand.

Much of suburban American seems oblivious to the suffering of thousands of people because of these unjustified arrests. Instead, racism and misguided nationalism cause many to point to the severity of the attacks themselves as the justification for arbitrary arrests. Several of the interviewees are actually US citizens, but not the preferred Caucasian type. The manner in which “agents” approached the homes and workplaces of detainees reminds me of the stories of Gestapo raids in Nazi Germany. Tips from concerned citizens allegedly led to many of the arrests and interrogators played roles which seem like Third Reich caricatures, however unfortunately real. It was chilling to see one elderly gentleman engage in role-playing to portray the attitude and demeanor of his interrogators.

“Persons of Interest” is both the title of the film and the Department of Homeland Security’s euphemism for those Middle Eastern types whom the department determined needed to be interrogated and incarcerated. The human detention industry is alive and well in America and the terrorist attacks certainly provided supply for the demand.

“Persons of Interest” is currently showing at Cinema Village 12th Street (22 E. 12th St., between University and 5th Avenue).

Paul McBreen is a student in the PhD program in Classics.