June 23, 2009
Watching Neda die
You've probably already watched the video at least twice.
I have.
I've never watched anyone die in real life before. I've missed watching death by a half an hour.
But this footage has me on edge, particularly because my initial reaction was so callous.
I caught myself watching the video as I would any cinema veritae film. The camera angles, the rushed positioning were all reminiscent of a sub par scene in "Children of Men" or a Werner Herzog documentary.
Then I thought, isn't that what those films are mimicking? Shouldn't I be glorifying this attempt at illustrating protest in its most powerful form, instead of ripping it apart?
I think now, I was trying to separate myself from the horrific scene being depicted. Neda bleeding from her eyes. Neda dying like a dog in the street. Neda galvanizing a movement of young people who will probably die, too.
It's all too much to see. But I'll click play again.
