Using actual transcripts from the Guantanamo Bay military tribunals, The Response provides a window into the tribunals and allows the general public a glimpse of what takes place at Guantanamo Bay. The film’s writer/producer, Sig Libowitz, has had first hand experience at Guantanamo Bay, participating as a legal observer to the Military Commissions.
The film, directed by Adam Rodgers, has been showcased at various locations nationwide, including screenings at both The Pentagon and the U.S. Department of Justice. The Response has received favorable reviews both from the military and the general public, including an Audience Award at the Politics on Film festival in Washington, D.C.
The thirty-minute drama focuses on the trial of an enemy combatant and three military judges that are deciding his fate. The film is unclear on whether or not the enemy combatant is guilty, instead forcing the audience to experience the ambiguities of the tribunal process. The specific trial revolves around whether the detainee provided supportive material to Al Qaeda, or whether he is an innocent victim that was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The military judges are forced to decide the man’s fate without full access to the evidence and trust their instincts.
The film holds a chilling mirror up to the military tribunals and shows how complicated the issues are surrounding the Guantanamo Bay detainees. For information on screenings in your area, visit the film’s website at www.theresponsemovie.com.
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