Washington, DC Film Festival
October 6-8, 2005Friday, October 7
7:00 p.m.
STATE OF FEAR
Director: PAMELA YATES
Documentary. 2005. Peru/USA. 94 min. English/Spanish, subtitled.
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How can an open society balance demands for security with democracy? State of Fear dramatizes the human and societal costs a democracy faces when it embarks on a "war" against terror, a "war" potentially without end, all too easily exploited by unscrupulous leaders seeking personal political gain.
The film follows events in Peru, yet it serves as a cautionary tale for a nation like the United States. Filmmakers Pamela Yates, Paco de Onís and Peter Kinoy masterfully blend personal testimony, history and archival footage to tell the story of escalating violence in the Andean nation and how fear of terrorism was used to undermine the democracy, making Peru a virtual dictatorship where official corruption replaced the rule of law.
Terrorist attacks by the Shining Path guerrillas provoked a military occupation of the countryside. Military justice replaced civil authority, widespread abuses by the Peruvian Army went unpunished, and the terrorism continued to spread. Nearly 70,000 civilians eventually died at the hands of the Shining Path and the Peruvian military.
Filmmakers/Distributors Contact Information:
Paco de Onis paco@skylightpictures.com
Following the screening, the film’s producer, Paco de Onis, will lead a discussion on how governments combat terrorism.
Friday, October 7th, 7:00 p.m.