Children of Beslan is a 2005 documentary film about theBeslan school siege directed byEwa Ewart andLeslie Woodhead for theBBC. In the United States the documentary aired onHBO. Tony Perry of theLos Angeles Times stated that the film recounts survivors' testimonies and does not explore political aspects nor assign blame to any party.[1]
Ewart went to Beslan in November 2004 to compile footage for the film, interviewing 140 subjects, all children who were held prisoner in the incident.[2] Adults were not interviewed.[1] Ewart, who had previously covered wars as a journalist, stated that "no amount of war-zone coverage proved to me as traumatic as making this film."[3] In May 2009 Ewart went back to Beslan to do follow-up coverage.[2]
The footage alternates between interviews and primary source material. The documentary does not use narration,[1] nor does it depict the voices of interviewers. It has inter-titles to show the chronology of the siege.[4]
Brian Lowry ofVariety wrote that it was "chillingly effective in driving these horrific events home" but that it was exploiting its interviewees and "in most ways inferior to" a documentary on Beslan byWide Angle.[5] Dana Sevens ofSlate gave a positive review.[4]
 | This article about a British documentary film is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |