I mentioned this on a thread on the Other Place. It was ignored. So. I’ll try again here. Anyone watched this documentary?
Available on IPlayer for a few months yet. I’ve just watched for the second time. It’s really very good. I can’t say anything about Adam Curtis that hasn’t already been said.
If you haven’t seen it - then you should - just so you can tell me it’s shit (which it isn’t)
This is the second time that I’ve made a mental note to watch this, Koala. Thanks for the reminder, I’ll endeavour to watch it when I get the time.
I’m a big admirer of Adam Curtis, who has a very particular world view and documentary style (I can’t imagine his credit turning up at the end of Benefits Street). He leads a kind of charmed existence at the BBC - a rare insider filmmaker with the editorial freedom to do what he wants. (Although notice that this film has not been broadcast. It’s only been available on iPlayer. And there are things that could be said about that limitation.)
I also really like this film, because it so fluently sets the context of the fallout from agreement at Bitter Lake. I do though think it misses the reason why Wahhabism was projected so energetically and so damagingly. The Iranian revolution in 1979 saw the rise of something that had never happened before: a Shia fundamentalist power - and one right on Saudi’s doorstep. I was in Pakistan a few years after this, and saw the huge effort to instil Wahhabi ideology in that country then (all at the time of resistance to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, so Pakistan was fertile territory). The Saudis wanted a Wahhabi buffer zone around the Arabian Gulf and beyond.
It’s the fallout from that that’s causing so much grief now.
FAO: Friday night film seeking Bearsy.
Pap - I imagine you’d be all over this too.
I agree, TCK.
Bitter Lake is an excellent piece of work and well worth the watch.
This don’t sound like the sort of thing I’d like, does it? I’m worried it might be High Brow. I can’t even understand, from the comments above, what it’s sposed to be about.
Adam Curtis’ stuff is so affective because of the almost hypnotic use of startling footage and music. And his narration. Bitter Lake covers things he’s done before. And to be honest, most people can make the connection with Wahhabism and Isis now. The short scene with the US soldier and the bird is just incredible though.
I really loved “Century of the self”. I dunno, I hadn’t heard of Edward Bernays before or really wondered why I keep buying things.I don’t really need 
I watched the first part of Century of the Self this morning, and, yes, it’s very interesting.
Thanks for recommending it, Ted.
Bill Hicks doesn’t like marketing 
Sorry, I’ll shut up now 
When the Canadian DJ is a bit embarassing …
Originally posted by @TedMaul
Bitter Lake covers things he’s done before. And to be honest, most people can make the connection with Wahhabism and Isis now. The short scene with the US soldier and the bird is just incredible though.
Most Guardian readers, maybe. I think you over estimate the give-a-fuckness of most people about the Middle East. I’m pretty sure if you asked the average person on the street what Wahhaabism is they’d say something about sushi.
Agree about the bird scene though.
I’m watching it now, 45mins. Really interesting, engaging and well made.