Catch Four Lions
May 18th, 2010 § Leave a Comment
“Could you ever laugh at terrorism?” is the question asked by the host of a British television news channel that reported on the UK premiere of satirist Chris Morris’s first feature film, Four Lions. It’s in British theatres now and began causing a stir even before the first showing with families of the 2005 London bombings campaigning for it to be boycotted by cinemas. The film satires the case of 4 British Muslims as they plan suicide attacks.
Due at least in part to the sensitive subject matter it deals with, most people cast judgement on it before ever having seen it. In the clip I link to above, Morris himself can’t help but laugh (at 6:24) when his interviewer tells him that according to someone who hasn’t seen the film, it’s sick.
Interviewer: We’ve spoken to people today who haven’t seen the film, obviously, but they’re already saying, “it’s sick.” You know, with, their memories are very clear of 7/7.”
Morris: Did you just say that you’ve spoken to some people who haven’t seen the film and they’re saying it’s sick? Do I need to say anything else?
Even the interviewer ends up laughing after Morris points out the contradiction in his own question.
Whatever your preconceptions may be, do yourself a favor and actually watch the film. Morris’s sharp wit and humour aside, the movie was made with an incredible sense of intelligence, irony and attention to detail which Morris garnered while researching his subjects. In Four Lions everyone (and I mean everyone) is guilty of ignorance as well as stupidity, while the realities of the issues explored persist throughout the film’s entirety.
We may feature more on Four Lions later, but for now, here’s the trailer.
