The Terrorist

This is a very powerful film. Based in India - it tells the story of 19 year old Malli, played by Ayesha Dharkar, a hardened terrorist or freedom fighter as she travels and prepares to assinate a government official by blowing herself up.

As she travels you get flash backs of her life - the death of her father - the martyrdom of her brother - her encounter with a young boy wounded during an army attack on a guerilla base - an his subsequent violent death - and - we see her in action - killing soldiers in a fight - and with a machete. The film gives a strong insight into why a person would want to be a suicide bomber - and an insight into the life of a freedom fighter.

Malli travels to the area where she is to make her attack and is lodged with a kindly farmer, Vasu. His kindness and his situation make Malli start questioning whether she should continue with the attack - this would have been her first experience of normal life - since she was a child. There is another twist in the plot that I can't tell you as it would spoil the film. Needless to say the tension mounts as Malli rehearses the attack and struggles with her conscience - and the tension holds to the end of the film.

The direction is extremely good - the cast - mostly non-professional - very believable - and the locations - rivers, waterfalls and rural India are fantastic - its certainly an area I would love to visit.

Of course in reality a suicide bomber - would be kept away from the real world - to prevent doubts - and a little of Vasu's life is fanciful - his son long dead - and his wife in a coma. However these are minor quibbles.

Go and see the film its very good - it grips you - and helps you understand why people are terrorists.