A political statement condemning the Bush Administration

Rating: 9/10 (20 August 2004)

This film is a brilliant exposition of the manner in which Americans are manipulated and controlled by fear, promoted continuously by the George W. Bush White House in order to push the administration's policies. The film is very well done and particularly enjoyable when viewed under this context.
The Villagers are analogous to American citizens, Edward Walker (William Hurt) to Bush and "the one's we do not speak of" are the "threat." Warning levels (slain animals, markings of the bad color, etc.) are manipulated by the Village elders in a similar manner that the Bush Administration manipulates color-coded "terror threat levels" to keep the citizens in perpetual fear which ultimately and ironically makes them lean towards their leaders for protection, giving the leaders more control even though they are the one's manipulating the threat after all. There is much more to be said about this analogy but perhaps it is best to simply see the movie. I recommend it.