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Ghosts of Abu Ghraib

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Ghosts of Abu Ghraib
Directed byRory Kennedy
Written byJack Youngelson
Produced by
CinematographyTom Hurwitz
Edited bySari Gilman
Music byMiriam Cutler
Distributed byHBO
Release date
  • 2007 (2007)
Running time
82 minutes (Sundance Film Festival)
CountryUSA

Ghosts of Abu Ghraib is a 2007 documentary film, directed by Rory Kennedy, that examines the events of the 2004 Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse scandal. The film premiered January 19, 2007, at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.[1]

Content

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This documentary was the first to feature Iraqi victims (interviewed in Turkey) as well as guards who were directly involved in the torture in the prison. In the film, director Rory Kennedy examines how "ordinary soldiers" were capable of such acts. The film presents the torture as the result of military and government policies implemented in a climate of fear and chaos, inadequate training and inadequate resources.

Using these interviews, the film traces the events that led to the scandal, beginning with the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Using footage from the Milgram experiment in the 1960s at Yale, the film suggests that most people are capable of committing inhumane acts against other people when ordered to do so.

Distribution

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The film aired on HBO on February 22, 2007.[2] It was also shown at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival on March 23, 2007, at the Cleveland International Film Festival on March 25, 2007 and at the Oslo International Film Festival on November 17, 2007.[3]

Working Films coordinated the US national community engagement campaign with Ghosts of Abu Ghraib.[4] It brought together the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, the American Civil Liberties Union, faith groups, and others to end US policy sanctioning torture.[5]

Critical reception

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The film attracted some interest in media and was discussed extensively.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

The film was nominated for four Emmys at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards in the categories of Outstanding Non-Fiction Special, Outstanding Directing for Non-Fiction Programming, Outstanding Picture Editing for Non-Fiction Programming, and Outstanding Sound Editing for Non-Fiction Programming.[14] It won the award for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special.[15]

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References

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  1. ^ ----GHOSTS OF ABU GHRAIB Archived May 20, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved September 16, 2007
  2. ^ "Ghosts Of Abu Ghraib (HBO) - Reviews from Metacritic". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 21, 2007. Retrieved September 16, 2007.
  3. ^ Ghosts of Abu Ghraib, Release Info Archived December 25, 2021, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved September 16, 2007
  4. ^ "Torture and the 2008 Elections". Working Films. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  5. ^ Lee, Daniel (August 6, 2008). "The real picture". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on September 16, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  6. ^ Greenberg, James (January 19, 2007). "Ghosts of Abu Ghraib". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  7. ^ Stanley, Alessandra (February 22, 2007). "'Ghosts of Abu Ghraib': Abu Ghraib and Its Multiple Failures". The New York Times. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  8. ^ Leonard, John (February 14, 2007). "The Ad Hoc Behavioral Laboratory". New York Magazine. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  9. ^ Perry, Tony (February 22, 2007). "Inside Abu Ghraib, where souls cracked". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  10. ^ Ezninna, Wes (February 21, 2007). "Ghosts of Abu Ghraib". The Nation. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  11. ^ Moore (February 22, 2007). "'Ghosts of Abu Ghraib' probes shameful episode in Iraq war". SouthCoast TODAY. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  12. ^ Kaufman, Anthony (February 22, 2017). ""Ghosts of Abu Ghraib" Premieres Tonight; Torture Continues". IndieWire. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  13. ^ "Rory Kennedy Reveals the Ghosts of Abu Ghraib". PopMatters. June 12, 2007. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  14. ^ The 59th Primetime Emmy® Awards and Creative Arts Emmy® Awards Nominees Archived March 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved September 16, 2007
  15. ^ ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS AND SCIENCES 59TH ANNUAL PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS Archived February 22, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved September 16, 2007
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