Syriana

I'm struggling to even know what to write that will be significant enough. This movie is amazing. At first a little slow, and confusing as to how everyone is connected. It follows the story of a number of different people: an almost retired CIA agent, an energy analyst and his family, a company lawyer and his clients, a dying sheik and his two son's who wish to replace him, and Pakistani immigrants. One of the interwoven themes in all of their lives was hopelessness. The CIA agent let down by his agency, the energy man and his family loss, the lawyer and his ideals, the sheik's sons ideals, and the Pakistanis that to get jobs must learn Arabic, which is taught in Mosques where they are preyed upon by the "inner groups". Everyone is trapped by what life has handed them.

One thing that I found amazing was how the film presented different views and did not judge them, what they are is what they are, nothing else.



Interesting Facts about Syriana:

- Movie is based on the book See No Evil by Robert Baer
- The movie was filmed with two hand cameras
- The MID Foundation was hired to teach the characters Arabic & Farsi
- Filming in the Middle East took place during Ramadan, tents were set up so that those not observing could eat without being seen
- Casablanca, Morocco doubled as Beirut, Lebanon & Tehran, Iran