Wednesday, September 17, 2008

ONE WAY TO CHANGE THE WORLD

ONE WAY TO CHANGE THE WORLD


I watched FIVE FINGERS. It is a 2006 film directed by Laurence Malkin, starring Laurence Fishburn, Colm Meaney and Ryan Phillippe.

Here is the synopsis:

The film is fictional, but inspired by and is about an Islamic terrorist who captures a Dutch citizen, setting off a thrilling game of one-upsmanship, punctuated by riveting suspense and a dynamite shocker ending. Martijn (Ryan Phillippe) is on a goodwill mission in Morocco when he is stabbed with a syringe and wakes up blindfolded and shackled in a hideout. His captors (Laurence Fishburne and Gina Torres) want information - and they'll do anything to get it. So Martijn had better come up with a plan of action, because he's running out of time ... and fingers.

Here is a dialogue from one of the scenes. It’s between Martijn and the woman captor, Aicha:

M: I was fired.

A: And why is that? Did they find out about the money?

M: No. They saw pictures of me.

A: Doing what?

M: Protesting.

A: Protesting. Against who?

M: Dutch immigration policy and our government’s support of the World Bank.

A: You honestly believe that to protest against the World Bank would accomplish something?

M: I did. I used to think that it could accomplish a lot.

A: But not anymore?

M: Not that way, no.

A: Of course not. Because you are a child, Martijn. An idealistic, stupid child who is playing a very dangerous game. You go away for a weekend, throw a few stones, swallow a little tear gas and tell your girlfriend how risky it was. And while she is sucking on your cock, your government expels 40 000 asylum seekers. You have no idea what it would really take to change the world.

M: You’re wrong.

A: Then tell me.

M: A series of devastating events, events that would destroy the world’s richest companies, that would crush the world’s economy. A dozen 9/11s all over the world.

A: Like what?

M: Like targeted direct action against Halliburton. Against Dow Chemical, against McDonald’s. And not just American companies. Against Airbus, against British Petroleum. Against any company that promotes global capitalism and destroys lives and cultures in order to increase its profits…