The film Zero Dark Thirty explores the use of torture and its relevance in obtaining useful information to thwart terror. The film opens with a terrorist’s arms tied up while Dan, a CIA agent is interrogating him. Dan talks down to him by calling him a paper boy, a disgrace to humanity. As the interrogation continues and the terrorist refuses to give up information, the agents proceed in water boarding him while he is laying on the floor. Another scene in the movie that depicts torture is when the terrorists are detained and Dan puts one in a cell with barbed wires. He proceeds in force feeding him. These scenes depict and characterize the various aspects of torture used throughout the War on Terror.
As an auteur Bigelow uses femininity and authority to pay close attention to details and keep a close focus on the War on Terror. The female protagonist in the film is portrayed as a key character in uncovering the case. Bigelow also efficiently uses the formal film element of sound to add an artistic aspect. The sound of the helicopters in the film are detrimental, just as they were in Apocalypse Now. The loud, powerful helicopter blades build up the scenes by creating intensity and drama. Once the characters get inside the helicopter the music stops and the volume of the blades decrease. The decreasing volume of the loud, choppy blades suggests, to the audience and characters, that their mission is dangerous and special. The sound of the helicopters are so building, without them the characters know this means business. This factor also allows you to identify with the characters and better understand the scene.
Although torture was depicted accurately in its brutality in Zero Dark Thirty, the film suggests that the vital information uncovering Bin Laden’s whereabouts was obtained through other means. Initially, the water boarding was used to try and get information about an upcoming terrorist attack. However, the CIA agents failed to obtain any information to stop the attack by means of torture. As an auteur Bigelow uses the female CIA agent Maya, to nullify the idea that torture was key. Maya learned important information about Bin Laden’s courier through a friendly discussion with the terrorists. Therefore, while depicted accurately the movie doesn’t endorse its use of torture.
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