Flat Perspective

Rating: 7/10 (2 November 2004)

The consensus of opinion on Black Hawk Down is that as an action film depicting the reality of a battle it is extremely well executed.
But that the personalities of the film's characters are mostly vacant, that they simply react to events without any real engagement with the wider issues of life.
And that, even though it is clear from the film's portrayal of what happened that the raid on Mogadishu was badly handled, that the film somehow makes heroes out of the Rangers.
That even though we are clearly told that over 1,000 Somalis died, that the film ignores their plight.
It seems to me that the film is working. The soldiers personalities are largely vacant. We get enough to show that they are distinct enough to be real people, but that they mostly lack depth. That's all we need.
The wider issues are there. Not exactly hidden. Not exactly in the background. There, clearly in black and white. In every frame. You can't escape from what is happening. We are shown and we are told. And the balance of opinion, as with the balance of weapon technology, is tilted very strongly in favour of the American soldiers.
We are given the flat perspective - just like the aerial pictures of the battle scene the generals are staring at - and we make of it what we will.
I saw an honest and brutal film that depicted quite clearly the imbalance of the battle in terms of numbers of people killed and weapons technology used. I saw the fear and thrill of the American soldiers. Some wanted to go back into the fight - other's were less keen. I saw the mess and the confusion. I saw angry Somalis, intelligent Somalis, violent Somalis, and lots of dead and dying Somalis. I saw the whole complex issue played out in front of me with astonishing clarity given the constant action of the film. I saw points in favour of the Ranger's philosophy of looking after your own. The beloved team spirit of the soldiers versus the clan spirit of the Somalis. The sense of community.
"This is not your war."