Oscar Matters - Taxi to the Darkside @ National Archives

Taxi to the Dark Side

On February 21st at 5:51 PM I arrive at the Special Events entrance to get my ticket for "Taxi to the Dark Side." Free tickets are going to be handed out at 6:00 PM and there is already a line out to the sidewalk on Constitution Ave. My fellow movie goers are all bundled up passing the time by doing "The Onion" crossword or reading a tattered copy of "Atonement" or talking about today's New York Times article about Senator McCain's "concubine." I'm standing next to a young woman who is holding a spot in line for family member who shows up in a well worn HRC hat. An employee of the National Archives walks out and tells us the rules: 1) Tickets will be handed out at 6 o'clock; 2) Doors will open at 6:30; 3) Visit the Starbucks or the Potbelly's across Pennsylvania but be back no later than a quarter of seven. The man in the HRC hat tells his young female relation, "Honey, my philosophy is if you think young, act young, and look young, it will help you stay young." Then he points to his face and says, "That why I got work done." This is a liberal crowd ecstatic to see a film that brings into sharp relief the failings of the Bush Presidency.

The wind is cutting through the pockets of my jacket as I wait for the doors to open. I'm doing everything to keep my hands warm but I know they won't be warm until I get inside. I'm envious of the woman who is being escorted into the building before doors officially open. A National Archives employee shouts ahead, "This is the speaker." The speaker reminds me of my Victorian Lit professor. She's carrying at least three bags and has a vague, confused expression on her face. I can't remember reading anything thing about speakers on the Web site, so I assume she is some sort of academic.

After I find my seat in the lavish William G. McGowan Theater I take a look at the program and read that Ann Hornaday, Washington Post film critic, is the speaker. As she sits in the audience before she's called to the podium I look over her shoulder and see a half page of typed notes. She's been asked to set aside her proclivity to assess the merits of individual films and talk about the DC film scene. Her comments are limited to the half page she had with her. After thanking foundations and vocalizing her hope that Charles Guggenheim's daughter is in the audience, she says, this theater is the center of the film scene in Washington. She goes on to note that seeing these nominated documentaries and short films is a new phenomenon and a privilege. She concludes by saying the films in this series, and any film worth is salt, approach the question, "Who are we?" in interesting and engaging ways.

Taxi to the Dark Side illuminates a dark and complex subject matter; the use torture in the war on terror. Like many of the war policies that come out of the Bush White House, the original torture policy is created hastily and implemented without consideration of long term consequences. The movie, in stark contrast to this mode of reasoning, carefully dissects each aspect of the story to find the underlying truth and lessons to be learned. Taxi and No End In Sight are must see films for every citizen concerned about American's standing in the world. What they ultimately show is that the promise of America lives within the thousands of civil servants who wake up each day to protect our nation and her interest. They also expose the greatest weakness of our nation: a complacence and apathetic public. The packed theater, the funding of several major foundations and organizations, and the general atmosphere of the evening reassure me that we have the capacity to learn from our mistakes and heal our wounded nation.