Director De Palma disturbed over Iraq film edit (Reuters)

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Director De Palma disturbed over Iraq film edit
19 Oct 2007 12:58:20 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Christine Kearney

NEW YORK, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Veteran Hollywood
director Brian De Palma has lashed out at what he
calls the censorship of his new film about Iraq and
the chilling effect of corporate America on the war.

De Palma's film, "Redacted," is based on the true story
of a group of U.S. soldiers who raped and killed a
14-year-old Iraqi girl and murdered members of her
family. It has stunned audiences for its shocking images
and rattled American conservative commentators before
its U.S. opening next month.

But De Palma says he is upset that the documentary-
style drama -- its name derived from his view that
news coverage of the war has been incomplete -- has
been censored.

The film's distributor, Magnolia Pictures, ordered the
faces of dead Iraqis shown in a montage of photographs
at the end of the film be blacked out.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N18464892.htm

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. Isn't that censorship required by the Geneva Conventions?

The Geneva Conventions prohibit using images of dead "enemies" for propaganda purposes. The Conventions make no distinction as to what kind of propaganda. That the Junta here violates international law should not be license for others such as De Palma to do likewise.

[htuttle]

2. I think you're confusing state actors with private ones

The Geneva Convention really only applies to nation states. Nation states can't use images of dead 'enemies' for propaganda, however that restriction does not apply to the press, to artists, or anyone else not affiliated with a government.

If De Palma could be shown to be working for a government, it might be a different story, but I don't believe the Geneva Convention has any applicability in his case.