In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, American civil liberties were tossed when more than 5,000 people of Arab and/or Islamic heritage were arrested by the Federal government under the aegis of “national security.” No evidence was brought to light linking any of the incarcerated to the terrorists responsible for the attacks, yet the detainees were held for indefinite periods, often in solitary confinement, and were denied access to legal counsel. Some of the arrested were eventually deported on very minor charges, mostly tied to expired immigration visas. Alison Maclean and Tobias Perse's documentary profile Persons of Interest combines interviews with a dozen former detainees and their family members (who recall the terror they experienced during the post-9/11 hysteria three years ago), as well as harrowing re-enactments of the detention and interrogation process sure to raise the hackles of anyone concerned about the state of civil liberties. Throughout this period, the government repeatedly balked at disclosing the depth and scope of its campaign against this segment of the population; today, it continues to deny that its efforts resulted in a total failure to uncover or disrupt any underground terrorist operation. Sure to generate intense feelings of shame, revulsion, and sadness in many, while also sparking fruitful discussion, this is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)
Persons of Interest
(2003) 63 min. VHS: $298. First Run/Icarus Films. PPR. Color cover. Volume 19, Issue 5
Persons of Interest
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