Get Out More………………….Film Review

TAKING LIBERTIES

11-06-2007

So how is a documentary highlighting the erosion of our freedom faring at the box office compared to Spiderman 3? Not too well, we suspect, but you can take our word for it - Taking Liberties is this summer’s real “must see” movie.

You might ask yourself why you’d want to sit in a dark room for an hour and three quartersand be reminded that life’s getting worse.

The answer is - in part at least - because this directorial debut by Bromsgrove lad Chris Atkins, is peppered with inspirational reminders that when ordinary people stand up and fight for what they believe in, change is possible.

The film starts with horrifying footage of three coachloads of peaceful protestors being turned away from an anti-war demo by heavy-handed cops, and being denied even a “comfort break”on their return home.

It ends with their ultimate victory at the House of Lords - proof that our judges, if not our politicians, are alert to the creeping clampdown on traditional British rights.

In between though, prepare for to be frightened in ways “The Exorcist” could never manage.

We see posh old ladies who - laughably - have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism; there’s a man kept under virtual house arrest despite being cleared in court of involvement in analleged Ricin plot,we meet the bankers extradited to the United States even though no evidence against them had been put to a British court.

We see, too, the surveillance society in operation, and the erosion of our right to peaceful protest.

It sounds heavy stuff - and at one level it is - but there’s a wry sense of humour running through the whole thing, some witty animation, and a sense of genuine, passionate outrage that can’t be faked.

Perhaps it’s 15 minutes over-long, and maybe it lacks the engaging narration that a Michael Moore style presenter might have brought - but make no mistake, this is gripping, intelligent film-making that puts yer average episode of “Panorama” to shame.

There’s plenty of local interest too with a contribution from Stirrer blogger Dr David Nicholl protesting outside the Hiatt’s handcuff factory in Great Barr as well as an interview with former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg.

Like all good movies this one has a villain - Tony Blair - once the nation’s hope but exposed here as a grinning gobshite, talking the talk of freedom, but walking the walk of a dictator.

Think that sounds OTT? Watch the film, then tell me that you still think that.