Justin Webster: The Madrid Connection
March 11 2004, the bombings in Madrid. 191 people died, more than 2000 were wounded, when trains were exploded in the early morning. Two young males stood behind the crime, Jamal and Sarhane, a criminal and an islamic extremist, both from North Africa.
Why did it come to this, is the question that Justin Webster raises in this fine, yet predictable in storytelling piece of journalistic documentary. Who were they, how did they get into terrorism, and how was the crime organised? What happened?
Interviews, blurred images of reconstructions of actions of the two involved, effectful sound design, anonymous persons witnessing, shots from the trial, where judges go after others, who are involved – the main criminals Jamal and Sarhane committed suicide, when they were about to be caught, but after they had published videos justifying the jihad.
It brings the viewer a well a professionally done character focused narrative that is carried by a wish to understand or at least explain but never justify. A one layered documentary, could it have been more?
Spain, UK, Denmark, 2007, 94 mins.
