#TIFF19: “THIS IS NOT A MOVIE”

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

This Is Not A Movie profiles the reporting of legendary Journalist Robert Fisk, who changed the game when it came to stories from the frontlines of war torn Middle Eastern nations as a foreign correspondent for The Times and The Independent newspapers in the UK.

Yung Chang’s Documentary is not an easy watch. While it is fascinating to watch Robert in action in both modern times and in his early days in the 70s and 80s, it just as harrowing to see and hear about the violence and loss of life he has witnessed. The Film takes an episodic approach to his stories, focusing specifically on the issues that are still just as much a problem today as they were decades ago. The Film gets bogged down however by unexplained elements, odd details and tangents as it nears the last act (why discuss online vitriol in the middle of the film and casually dismiss it just as quickly?). But the way Chang and her team edit and stitch clips together is rather marvelous, juxtaposing video from the likes of 9/11 to the bombed-out remains of a town in the Middle East – all in one seamless cut. Truly horrifying.

THIS IS NOT A MOVIE screens TIFF at the following times:

Monday September 9, 7:00pm @ Scotiabank Theatre [World Premiere]
Wednesday September 11, 8:30pm @ Scotiabank Theatre