The Power of Nightmares

While I’m on the subject of the Internet Archive (see the previous entry), I also must mention that it holds a copy of one of the most riveting political documentaries I’ve seen in recent years: Adam Curtis’ "The Power of Nightmares".

 

This film (in three parts) explores the origins in the 1940s and 50s of Islamic Fundamentalism in the Middle East, and Neoconservatism in America, the parallels between these movements, and their effect on the world today.

 

Curtis delivers a powerful polemic, with some arresting images and ideas – I won’t forget that of the Taleban fighters dancing (apparently) to "Baby, it’s cold outside" for a long, long, time.

 

The film, financed by the BBC, has (I believe) never been shown on the US TV networks. Why am I not surprised?