Join the Washington DC Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Nov 14th at 4:45 for Four Lions at the Landmark Bethesda Row . Look for Laine wearing a red jacket in the theatre lobby about 15 minutes before the film. As always, after the film we will descend on a local establishment for dinner/drinks/discussion.
Chris Morris’ Four Lions is a funny, thrilling comedy that illuminates modern jihadism through the prism of farce. What This Is Spinal Tap did for heavy metal and Dr. Strangelove the Cold War, Four Lions does for the modern face of terrorism. In a British city, four men have a secret plan. Omar is disillusioned about the treatment of Muslims around the world and is determined to become a soldier. This is the most exciting idea Waj has ever heard. Better still it’s a no-brainer because Omar does his thinking for him. Opposed to Omar and everyone else on earth is the white Islamic convert Barry. He”d realize he joined the cell to channel his nihilism – if he had half the self-knowledge of a duck. Faisal is the odd man out. He can make a bomb – but he can’t blow himself up just now ‘cuz his sick dad has “started eating newspaper.” Instead, he’s training crows to fly bombs through windows. This is what Omar has to deal with. They must strike a decisive blow on their own turf but can any of them strike a match without punching himself in the face? Crackling with wit and tension, Four Lions is the essential response to our failure to engage with reality and a high toast to the idea that laughter is better than killing.