Review by Sarah Baker
James Foley and John Cantlie were two conflict journalists kidnapped by the Islamic State in Syria in 2012, and while Foley was executed in August 2014, Cantlie has not been seen since a video was released of him in February 2015.
The video is twelve minutes long, taking place in Aleppo, Syria and is the ninth Islamic State propaganda clip to feature Cantlie.
Within the video, he tells his family, “let go and live your lives,” and says it will be his final appearance. It was.
According to the documentary itself, the brutal decapitation of James Foley, who spent time reporting daily life in both Libya and Syria, is the second most recognized event in modern American history, only following the events of September 11.
However, Jim: The James Foley story, directed by Brian Oakes, does not focus on Foley’s death, but rather his life and his message, including that of many other conflict journalists he knew, including Cantlie.
Every single minute of the film is packed with emotion and not a single word is flaccid. Memories of Foley’s life, his shenanigans and relationships with his family, friends, and fellow journalists are happy and amusing ones.
On the other hand, the documentation of his life and the life of citizens in Syria in Libya is heartbreaking. The story itself is gut wrenching, complex and guaranteed to broaden perspectives on the interactions transpiring in the Middle East.
Jim has already won a Primetime Emmy Award for Exceptional Merit in documentary filmmaking and is now eligible for an oscar. Doug Blush, a co-producer for the film, said “the entire thing happened so fast, in less than a year. Brian wanted to get the story out as soon as possible.”
According to Blush, Oakes had been a friend of the family, and conducted every interview that appears in the film himself.
To stand in solidarity with Cantlie’s family and friends, you can follow his FaceBook page, Free John Cantlie. For information on how to support Foley’s message, visit his FaceBook page as well, James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, or JamesFoleyFoundation.org.
This film was both educational and emotional, efficiently tackling the possibility of any viewer’s apathy for the conflicts in the countries reported upon.
It truly inspires motivation for change and calls attention to a subject that has deserved more than it’s been given in the last few decades. Score: 10/10.