The Power of Nightmares: The Rise of the Politics of Fear

United Kingdom

2005

157 Min

Color

English

Currently 4.4/5 Stars.
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CAST Adam Curtis, Sayyid Qutb, Sayyid Qutb, John Calvert, John Calvert, Leo Strauss, Leo Strauss, Harvey Mansfield, Harvey Mansfield

Synopsis

A look at how fear has come to dominate politics in America, Britain and around the world —and that much of that fear is based on an illusion. At the heart of the story are two groups: the American neo-conservatives, and the radical Islamists. Both were idealists who were born out of the failure of the liberal dream to build a better world. And both had a very similar explanation for what caused that failure. These two groups have changed the world, but not in the way that either intended. Together, they created today’s nightmare vision of a secret, organized evil that threatens the world. A fantasy that politicians then found restored their power and authority in a disillusioned age. And those with the darkest fears became the most powerful. —tcm.com

Director

Adam Curtis

Adam Curtis (born 1955) is a British television documentary maker who has during the course of his television career worked as a writer, producer, director and narrator. He currently works for BBC Current Affairs. His programmes express a clear (and sometimes controversial) opinion about their subject, and he narrates the programmes himself.

After attending Sevenoaks School (a member of the ‘art room’ that produced musicians, Tom Greenhalgh, Kevin Lycett and Mark White of The Mekons along with Andy Gill and Jon King of the Gang of Four) Curtis studied for a BA in Human Sciences (which included introductory courses in genetics, psychology, politics, geography and elementary statistics) at the University of Oxford. Curtis taught politics there, but left for a career in television. He obtained a post on That’s Life!, where he learned to find humour in serious subjects.

Curtis makes extensive use of archive footage in his documentaries. An Observer profile said: Curtis has… read more

Curtis makes extensive use of archive footage in his documentaries. An Observer profile said: Curtis has a remarkable feel for the serendipity of such moments, and an obsessive skill in locating them. “That kind of footage shows just how dull I can be,” he admits, a little glumly. “The BBC has an archive of all these tapes where they have just dumped all the news items they have ever shown. One tape for every three months. So what you get is this odd collage, an accidental treasure trove. You sit in a darkened room, watch all these little news moments, and look for connections.”

The Observer adds “if there has been a theme in Curtis’s work since, it has been to look at how different elites have tried to impose an ideology on their times, and the tragi-comic consequences of those attempts.”

Curtis received the Golden Gate Persistence of Vision Award at the San Francisco International Film Festival in 2005. In 2006 he was given the Alan Clarke Award for Outstanding Contribution to Television at the British Academy Television Awards. In 2009 Sheffield Doc/Fest awarded Curtis the inaugural Sheffield Inspiration Award for his inspiration to documentary makers and audiences. —wikipedia

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Tida

9Nov11

A compelling piece of work. Now that we know that our reality is built, based upon layers and layers of lies and deception, utilizing myths to the fullest extent, to the point where we are no longer certain what is true and what is not (although the truth now seems to be irrelevant), and they still expect us to believe in all those shit they tell us every-fucking-day on telly? Give me a break.

Răpciune

14Sep11

This should be projected in schools at contemporary history lessons, for it lucidly and mercilessly exposes the idiotizing myths and gothic tales that forged our perception on a series of global issues. Throw away your television...

spectrelight likes this

ruby stevens

5Jul11

http://thoughtmaybe.com/video/the-power-of-nightmares

Kenji

27Apr10

Given that the US, UK and many other nations' foreign policies are based on an absurd distortion of reality, propped up by nationalism and relentless media propaganda, and that these policies have led to a very bloody and costly quagmire alongside increasing big brother security measures instead of a safer world, then this film is essential viewing and deserves a far bigger audience than it has received. In the US it was considered too dangerous.