Operation Filmmaker, Directed by Nina Davenport

Throughout this film, all I could think about was how badly I felt for the director, Nina Davenport, who had to follow around Muthana Mohamed for at least two years to put together this unusual documentary.

Davenport was hired to follow the liberal experiment of actor-turned-director Liev Schreiber, who one day happened to be watching a special on MTV about an Iraqi film student who was talking about his desire to make films and how the conditions in Iraq, including his bombed-out school, made it impossible to properly study cinema.

Schreiber decided to invite Muthana, a seemingly dedicated and ambitious student, to Prague to work on the set of his film as a production assistant.

Davenport was hired to document Muthana’s experience and his anticipated success.  Instead, he turns out to be a nightmare for all involved, especially for the liberal film crew who brought him on set, as he refuses to work, becomes a compulsive liar, and goes on about how much he loves George Bush.

Operation Filmmaker is an incredibly quirky, interesting film in which many of the subjects, including the film’ s director, allow Muthana to pray on their liberal guilt regarding the occupation of his country for his own monetary advantage as well as many extended visas.

The film documents the nightmare of dealing with a difficult subject, who in this case becomes an occupying force in the life of Davenport (she even makes the analogy between the two occupations). This forces Davenport herself to become a subject in her own film, constantly questioning her responsibility as a filmmaker until finally her relationship with her subject breaks down completely, and she must say enough is enough. 

*Operation Filmmaker screenings at the VIFF:

Sunday, September 30, 10:30, GR5
Monday, October 8, 9:30, GR2
Tuesday, October 9, 12:30, GR2

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