Synopsis
The english poster of the documentary 'Shooting vs Shooting
The war in Iraq in 2003 was one of the bloodiest. The toll in civilian deaths was enormous and still, in many cases unaccountable. But this war was also one of the bloodiest ever for media personnel on the ground, covering the war to inform the world what was going on.
“Shooting vs Shooting” is a groundbreaking documentary feature film, in the sense that for the first time real stories are captured, usually hidden behind newspaper front pages; stories about journalists and media workers who died trying to do their jobs. The documentary examines deliberate or accidental attacks against media personnel during the war in Iraq till now days coming from all sides, both military and terrorist groups, alike.
Presents with vivid detail and rich archive material the story behind the attack against Hotel Palestine on April 8th killing two cameramen, Jose Couso and Taras Protsyuk. Also, explains the tragic events resulting to the death of Al Jazeera correspondent Tareq Ayyub, the last moments of journalist Terry Lloyd, and the killing of cameraman Mazen Dana outside the Abu Graib prison.
The Al Qaeda branch execution of Italian journalist and blogger Enzo Baldoni, is also included in the documentary; as well as the horrifying environment in which Iraqi journalists live under constant threat of terrorism, with car bomb explosions and executions.
Italian journalist Giuliani Sgrena, a victim of abduction herself, returns to Baghdad with Nikos Megrelis and describes in every detail, the horrific moments of her captivity by a terrorist group and the last moments of Nicola Calipari, the secret agent who freed her and was shot dead trying to protect her just a few seconds after, when an American patrol opened fire against the car driving them to the airport.
A number of distinguished journalists and authors from all over the world among them Peter Arnett, John Pilger, Michael Massing, Anthony Shadid, Chris Cramer, Kevin Sites, Philip Knightly, Aidan White and many others reveal the hidden agenda behind targeting journalists in Iraq and other war zones; compare today’s events with the recent history of the media in USA and describe the perplexity of modern propaganda, as the ultimate weapon in order to win or lose the support of the public opinion.
And the tragic figure of the documentary, a woman who lost her son, turns her face on camera with dignity and pride. Maribel Permui, mother of late TV cameraman Jose Couso, faces the camera and demands for justice, in its truest form, with no hesitation or remorse.
More than 3 years of research, 70 interviews and filming in Iraq and in 10 other countries have been distilled to this amazing documentary that sheds light to the darkest spots of impunity, need for justice and respect of human rights.
“Shooting vs Shooting” is an artistically advanced documentary grasping from the very early moments audience attention and smoothly passes from one story to the other with strong visuals and the incredible music score composed by Oscar winner Nicola Piovani.
“Shooting vs Shooting” is a groundbreaking documentary feature film, in the sense that for the first time real stories are captured, usually hidden behind newspaper front pages; stories about journalists and media workers who died trying to do their jobs. The documentary examines deliberate or accidental attacks against media personnel during the war in Iraq till now days coming from all sides, both military and terrorist groups, alike.
Presents with vivid detail and rich archive material the story behind the attack against Hotel Palestine on April 8th killing two cameramen, Jose Couso and Taras Protsyuk. Also, explains the tragic events resulting to the death of Al Jazeera correspondent Tareq Ayyub, the last moments of journalist Terry Lloyd, and the killing of cameraman Mazen Dana outside the Abu Graib prison.
The Al Qaeda branch execution of Italian journalist and blogger Enzo Baldoni, is also included in the documentary; as well as the horrifying environment in which Iraqi journalists live under constant threat of terrorism, with car bomb explosions and executions.
Italian journalist Giuliani Sgrena, a victim of abduction herself, returns to Baghdad with Nikos Megrelis and describes in every detail, the horrific moments of her captivity by a terrorist group and the last moments of Nicola Calipari, the secret agent who freed her and was shot dead trying to protect her just a few seconds after, when an American patrol opened fire against the car driving them to the airport.
A number of distinguished journalists and authors from all over the world among them Peter Arnett, John Pilger, Michael Massing, Anthony Shadid, Chris Cramer, Kevin Sites, Philip Knightly, Aidan White and many others reveal the hidden agenda behind targeting journalists in Iraq and other war zones; compare today’s events with the recent history of the media in USA and describe the perplexity of modern propaganda, as the ultimate weapon in order to win or lose the support of the public opinion.
And the tragic figure of the documentary, a woman who lost her son, turns her face on camera with dignity and pride. Maribel Permui, mother of late TV cameraman Jose Couso, faces the camera and demands for justice, in its truest form, with no hesitation or remorse.
More than 3 years of research, 70 interviews and filming in Iraq and in 10 other countries have been distilled to this amazing documentary that sheds light to the darkest spots of impunity, need for justice and respect of human rights.
“Shooting vs Shooting” is an artistically advanced documentary grasping from the very early moments audience attention and smoothly passes from one story to the other with strong visuals and the incredible music score composed by Oscar winner Nicola Piovani.