| State of Fear |
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| Directed By:
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Pamela Yates, Paco de Onís and Peter Kinoy
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| Produced In:
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USA/Peru 2005
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| Running Time:
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94 minutes
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| Genre:
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Documentary
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| Language:
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English and Spanish with English subtitles
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| Themes:
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Peru, 9/11, Genocide/Ethnic Conflicts, Cultural Identity: Latino, Children's Rights, Immigration
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| Distributor:
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Skylight Pictures
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Synopsis:
How can an open society balance demands for security with democracy? State
of Fear dramatizes the human and societal costs a democracy faces when it
embarks on a “war” against terror, a “war” potentially without end, all
too easily exploited by unscrupulous leaders seeking personal political
gain. The film follows events in Perú, yet it serves as a cautionary tale
for a nation like the United States. Filmmakers Pamela Yates, Paco de Onís
and Peter Kinoy masterfully blend personal testimony, history, and archival
footage to tell the story of escalating violence in the Andean nation and
how the fear of terror undermined democracy, making Perú a virtual
dictatorship where official corruption replaced the rule of law. Terrorist
attacks by Shining Path insurgents provoked a military occupation of the
countryside. Military justice replaced civil authority. Widespread abuses
by the Peruvian Army went unpunished. Terrorism continued to spread. Nearly
70,000 civilians eventually died at the hands of Shining Path and the
Peruvian military.
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