Captive 2015
Distributed by First Run Features, 630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036; 212-243-0600
Produced by Swift Productions
Directed by Brillante Mendoza
DVD, color, 122 min.
General Adult
Arab-Israel Conflict, Hostage Negotiation, Terrorism
Date Entered: 08/05/2015
Reviewed by Sandy Costanza D’Youville College, Buffalo, NYCaptive portrays the Dos Palmas kidnappings where in 2001 at a resort in the South Philippines hotel guests were taken captive by an Islamic separatist group. Historical relevance of the film is noted as events actually happened with some of the hostages being held for close to a year but the relevance beyond the historic perspective is questionable.
If the film is to portray the bond that develops between the captors and the hostages it does that, but to what point? The captors stressed in the beginning of the film that women would not be harmed nor taken advantage of sexually as they were not their wives, but as the film progresses several women are forced to marry their captives. They are repeatedly forced to make calls for money, threatened by gunfire and forced to survive in the woods.
Money, Allah and Osama bin Laden are key concepts stressed by the captors throughout the film but again to what point? Under the premise of following their religious beliefs these captors kidnap, ransom and kill anyone in their way. While this was a stark reality for the hostages and their families why someone would choose to watch a film portraying these events is questionable and not recommended.