Zero Dark Thirty

“Zero Dark Thirty” is a 2012 rated ‘R’ release by Oscar-winning Director Kathryn Bigelow. It stars Jessica Chastain (nominated for an Oscar in her role as best actress) as Maya in the true account of a tireless CIA operative’s hunt for Osama Bin Laden. It won an Oscar in 2013 for best achievement in sound editing.

The film underwent scrutiny due to its depiction of torture as a means to elicit information. Senator John McCain, who underwent torture in Vietnam, decried the film as “grossly inaccurate and misleading”. The primary sequences in question involved water boarding an individual. Later, his information upon investigation resulted in an individual who was Bin Laden’s personal messenger. After following this man, the C.I.A. became fairly certain that Bin Laden or another high level target was located in Pakistan. History shows this assumption to have been the correct one and the film’s point of view is that Bin Laden would like never have been captured, at least not so soon, but for the tireless work of Maya.

There are some action scenes and violence in the film. However, what is rarely pointed out is the drama and human study central to the story and presented by the lead protagonist. “Zero Dark Thirty” is about more than just the hunt for Bin Laden, it is about the power of an individual against all odds to succeed against an overwhelming bureaucracy. It is also the story that such a fight can often be a lonely struggle with few accolades.