ZERO DARK THIRTY

I watched Zero Dark Thirty at the local cinema last night. We knew it wouldn't be popular, but a total of seven customers, including my wife and me, was under expectations. An elderly man three rows in front, who ended up having two helpings of popcorn, said he couldn't understand why more Danes didn't watch it. I agree.

If you haven't seen it, the film is about the obsessive search for, and eventual liquidation of, Osama Bin Laden, seen through the eyes of the monomaniacal CIA agent who eventually pieces the puzzle together. She is very well played by Jessica Chastain, who was deservedly nominated for an Oscar (but didn't get it). She gets imperceptibly dragged further and further into the things that are necessary to combat terrorism, including water-boarding and similar unsavoury things.

What I liked about the film was that it didn't judge whether this was right or wrong, it simply presented things and left it up to you. Maya gets her man, but ends up with no friends and not much of a life. Was it worth it? It doesn't say.

Walter Blotscher