Free Dating Site    

Bush 'whacked' in edgy British mockumentary
01/09/2006 11.37.47 PM

CTV.ca News

An edgy British film about the fictional assassination of U.S. President George Bush is kicking off a firestorm of controversy ahead of its screening at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The listing of Death of a President, which has not been screened for the press, has been posted on the festival website under the low-key acronym of D.O.A.P.

The film is shot in the form of a documentary, using a blend of archival footage and computer-generated special effects to tell the tale of a president's assassination.

In the feature-length film, Bush is confronted by a large anti-war rally when he arrives in Chicago in October 2007 to make a speech to business leaders.

Bush is unperturbed by the demonstration and goes ahead with the visit, and is gunned down by a sniper as he leaves the venue.

The ensuing hysteria is further inflamed when the investigation by the "state apparatus" quickly turns its attention on a Syrian-born man.

The assassination scene echoes previous attacks on American leaders such as the attempt on President Ronald Reagan's life in 1981 as he left the Washington Hilton hotel.

The film will premiere at the Toronto festival on September 10. More4, the digital offshoot of Britain's Channel 4 network, plans to show the program on Oct. 9.

"It's destined to be Michael Moore's favourite film at the festival, I think," Canada AM film critic Richard Crouse said Friday.

"It's going to be one of the most controversial films at the festival for sure," he said.

The White House declined to comment on the network's announcement, saying it would not dignify the program with a response.

"It's a pointed political examination of what the war on terror is doing to the American body politic," More4 boss Peter Dale said at a press conference on Thursday.

Promotional materials described the film as "a thought-provoking critique of the contemporary U.S. political landscape."

Dale conceded that the program will be controversial but maintained that it was a work meant to provoke debate.

"I'm sure there will be people upset by it," he said. "I hope people will see the intention as a good one."

Director Gabriel Range denied charges of sensationalism.

"The film is based on meticulous research and interviews with FBI agents and people on the other side of the war on terror," he told The Times.

"It is a serious and sensitive film. There is no way it would encourage anyone to assassinate Bush and usher in Cheney's America," said Range, whose 2003 television movie "The Day Britain Stopped" showed what might happen if the country's transportation network ground to a halt.

Festival co-director Noah Cowan praises the film in a posting on the TIFF website.

"This is easily the most dangerous and breathtakingly original film I have encountered this year," he writes.

But he contends that the film does not launch a personal attack against Bush.

"Range simply seeks to explore the potential consequences that might follow from the president's policies and actions," Cowan says.

Britain's Channel 4, which is publicly owned but funded by advertising, came under fire last week by outgoing ITV Chief Executive Charles Allen for its dependence on reality TV shows and "shock docs."

More4's autumn lineup also includes "The Trial of Tony Blair," a satirical program about the future resignation of the British prime minister.

In the comedy, Blair seeks absolution from the Catholic Church after being accused of war crimes over his role in the invasion of Iraq.

Bush 'whacked'

If someone had made a film like this about Clinton...the whole Lefty Isle would want to put immediate sanctions on the Britts.....Hypocrits!

So you create a hypothetical situation, put words in the mouths of left-leaning people regarding the situation which never happened, and then you call them hypocrits for the words they never said about a situation that didn't happen. Interesting...

This is a shame...The filmmakers should be ashamed of themselves....I know for a fact...the left wing folks here will love the film...Disgusting!

This is a shame...The filmmakers should be ashamed of themselves....I know for a fact...the left wing folks here will love the film...Disgusting!
If someone had made a film like this about Clinton...the whole Lefty Isle would want to put immediate sanctions on the Britts.....Hypocrits!

Go hug the tree and be happy they did not make the movie about YOU!

And it's banned in the USA?

BTW it's a Syrian that is taking out Bush in this movie...yep, an Arab.