Based on a behind-the-scenes exposé written by former South African politician Andrew Feinstein, this excoriating doco from Johan Grimonprez offers a superb and succinct examination of the global arms trade.
Spares no one to expose a shadow world of corruption, slush funds, drones, illicit bed partners, and a whole lot of lies and greed.
Screened as part of NZIFF 2016
Shadow World 2016
“Shadow World uses vivid and haunting imagery as visual evidence of Andrew Feinstein’s frightening book on the global arms trade and the new growth industry of war. With insightful interviews, archival and found footage and a keen eye for content, director Johan Grimonprez examines the Iran-Contra scandal, the Iraq War, the dynamics of profiteering concealed within the War on Terror, weapons deals between Britain’s BAE Systems and the Saudi-Arabian government and more. Shadow World digs deeply into the corruption and conflicting interests inherent in companies that deal in arms, the privatization of war and the relationship between powerful lobbyists and politicians…” — Gustavus Kundahl, San Francisco International Film Festival
“Grimonprez doesn’t want audiences to get out their handkerchiefs; he wants them to get out their protest signs, their megaphones and their voting ballots… Flawlessly juggling an impressive array of talking heads with archival footage, the director aims his disgust at politicians, from Reagan to Obama, Blair to Prince Bandar bin Sultan, and the billions invested in ensuring militarization and war never get put on ice.” — Jay Weissberg, Variety