http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2006/09/12/reviewing-death-of-a-president/

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President Bush Assassinated in New TV Docudrama

From: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-

23365246details/President+Bush+assassinated+in+new+TV+

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Held up by a secret service bodyguard in his dying moments after being shot in the stomach, this is President Bush being assassinated.

Surrounded by a crowd of panicking onlookers, the American leader is pictured just seconds after being gunned down by a sniper following an anti-war demonstration.

But rather than a repeat of JFK's shooting or Ronald Reagan's attempted assassination, this shocking image is part of a new Channel Four show.

The dramatic scene, which has caused outrage among Americans, has been created by a British film company for a programme about the effect of the War On Terror.

In Death Of A President, which will premiere at the Toronto Film Festival later this month (SEPT)before being shown on Channel 4's satellite channel More4 in October, the assassination is a starting point for a retrospective fictional documentary about what happened next.

This scene, which was created by putting the President's face onto an actor with digital wizardry, shows him being gunned down just hours after driving past an anti-war demonstration while doing a talk in Chicago.

The two hour drama, in which events are 're-created' by the use of footage and interviews, shows the media storm around the War on Terror as Muslims are fingered as the culprits before there is any evidence.

In the wake of the assassination, authorities focus on a Syrian-born man in the search for the culprit.

'In the hunt for the killer, this will show how America has been affected by the War on Terror,' said a spokesman. 'It is about the polarisation of America in all the events post 9/11.'

But the drama, which will be shown on Channel 4 after being screened on More4, has angered some Americans who have seen four presidents assassinated while in office.

Eric Staal of Republicans Abroad in London said last night: 'I wonder if they are celebrating the idea that the president could be assassinated.

'We've seen from early in his presidency the extremes that the political Left are willing to go to vilify him. This takes this vilification to a new and disturbing level.

'It is an appalling way to treat the head of state of another country.'

While a White House spokesman said: 'This does not dignify a comment (sic).'

The film, which Channel 4 describes as 'a thought-provoking critique of contemporary America' has been written and directed by Gabriel Range.

His previous work includes two docudramas for the BBC; The Day Britain Stopped, a fictional documentary on two planes colliding above London and The Man Who Broke Britain about a city trader who causes a national recession.

Death Of A President is not the only way More4 will be exploring the impact of the War on Terror, the channel announced at a launch yesterday.

The Trial of Tony Blair, by the makers of the farce A Very Social Secretary, will take a 'darkly humorous' look at what will happen to the Prime Minister after he leaves office.

Starring Robert Lindsay as Blair, a role which he also took in A Very Social Secretary about David Blunkett's affair with Kimberly Quinn the show will focus, the drama will kick off with his resignation.

The channel said: 'With Iraq still in turmoil and Gordon Brown in Number 10, The Trial of Tony Blair imagines how political events - now beyond his control - may shape both his future and his place in history.'

Other shows will include a real documentary on Iraq starring Saddam Hussein's daughter Raghad and Pamela Stepehenson conducting 'psychological interviews' with the Duchess of York and Stephen Fry.

Reader views (71) Add your view | Show all

Here's a sample of the latest views published. You can click view all to read all views that readers have sent in.

It's a sad time we are living in, when a world leader is critizied for standing up to terrorism. Are we to sit and watch terrorism happen and let fear control our lives?

People blame Bush for all the worlds problems (like the middle east conflict), but in reality they were already there before he took office.

Once Bush leaves office, who will stand up to terrorists?

Does a movie like this really change anything? Does killing a world leader resolve the middle east conflict?

Will terrorists leave westerners alone once Bush is killed or leaves office?

Is it better to ignore a problem like terrorism until it becomes too hard to ignore- like a nuclear attack? or another 9/11?

It's time to face reality and see who the real enemy is.

- Sam Nicols, Los Angeles, Ca.

Granted the Constitution gives everyone the right to free speech, but is this really free speech? Though I personally do not like Bush, I would never wish death upon him or anyone else for that matter. Making a movie like this could have tragic consequences, such as influencing some nut to actually attempt a "real" assasignation of the President! Think about it, how would Brits feel if we made a docudrama entitled "Death Of Tony Blair"?

- Livingston Ian Hampton, Houston,Texas

I find it unconscionable that any country would allow a film like this to be aired. To even suggest the assassination of another American president, no matter how much he may be hated, is appalling.

We Americans have always been a faithful ally to your country, losing many of our soldiers helping you fight the Germans in WWII in your country and this is the way you repay us? Shame on you! Why do you hate Americans so much? We don't hate you. In fact, I've always been proud of the fact that my ancesters came from England. Now I'm not so sure I'd want to brag about that anymore.

My first thought when I read this news story was, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if some Hollyweed slob like Michael Moore or others of that intellegence lacking ilk came up with the idea, wrote the story, and funded the film for Gabriel Range. It sounds like a stupid Michael Moore stunt. But then I thought, huh uh, that couldn't be true....or could it?

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Death of a President scores TIFF critics' prize

From: http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2006/09/16/tiff-awards.html

The controversial British film Death of a President, which depicts the assassination of U.S. President George W. Bush, has won the international critics' prize at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Death of a President, directed by Gabriel Range, was chosen "for the audacity with which it distorts reality, to reveal a larger truth," said a statement released by the festival.

Noel Mitrani, who directed Sur La Trace D'Igor Rizzi, accepts the award for Best Canadian First Feature Film at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday.

(Aaron Harris/Canadian Press)

The film is described as having a "unique premise, told in the style of a retrospective documentary, which offers a critique of the contemporary U.S. political landscape."

The director said he found it encouraging that his film found a distributor at the festival as well as winning an award.

"I hope that's proof that people can see beyond the premise and see that it's a film about this post 9/11 world we live in," said Range at the ceremony.

The festival, which began Sept. 7 and featured 352 films from more than 60 countries, wrapped up Saturday with an awards luncheon.

Low-key Bella wins People's Choice

Other winners include:

People's Choice Award: Bella, directed by Alejandro Gomez Monteverde. A story about two individuals whose lives converge in New York City beat runner-up Patrice Leconte's Mon Meilleur Ami.

Best Canadian First Feature: Sur La Trace D'Igor Rizzi, by Montrealer Noel Mitrani, is about a former professional soccer player whose life spirals downward after leaving France for Montreal in the wake of the death of his Québécois girlfriend. Jury members said the film is a "truly cinematic meeting of style and substance."

Cultural Innovation Award: Takva — A Man's Fear of God, directed by Ozer Kyzyltan of Turkey, concerns a man's belief in God that is put to the test.

Discovery Award: Reprise by Norway's Joachim Trier is billed as a "comedic portrayal of two young men whose shared dream of becoming a writer is trampled upon by the harsh face of reality."

Bella was a surprise winner for the People's Choice. It's a low-key film that did not get as much media buzz as others.

'I really hope that this is not a dream and that I don't wake up at film school.'

-Alejandro Gomez Monteverde, winner of the People's Choice AwardIt also marked the feature directorial debut of Monteverde, a 29-year-old graduate of the University of Texas film school who had previously only made documentaries, commercials and one short film.

"I really hope that this is not a dream and that I don't wake up at film school," Monteverde, who is Mexican, said during his speech.

"This festival is my first. It's my first film. It's my first everything."

Other Canadian winners

Another major prize, the Toronto: City Award for Best Canadian Feature Film, was given to Jennifer Baichwal's Manufactured Landscapes. It chronicles Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky as he travels the globe shooting landscapes transformed through industrial production.

"From its astonishing first shot to its overwhelming conclusion, this film is a profoundly evocative dialogue between artists of the highest calibre, finding exceptional beauty in the peril of our planet," said a statement from the jury.

The Toronto filmmaker also gets a cash award of $30,000.

Honourable mention went to Monkey Warfare from Toronto-based director Reg Harkema, which stars Don McKellar and Nadia Litz.

The Short Cuts Canada Award, with a $10,000 prize, went to Maxime Giroux of Montreal for Les Jours. The Quebec filmmaker's "exacting approach to composition, movement and sound brilliantly reinforces this exploration of loss in the days that follow a tragic death in the woods," the jury said.

Hundreds of movie stars, industry professionals and film fans from around the world converged for 10 days of movie-watching and parties.