Terror's Advocate DVD (2008)

Terror's Advocate

2008

Overall rating: 3 out of 5

from 378 members

Communist, anti-colonialist, right-wing extremist? What convictions guide the moral mind of Jacques Vergès? Barbet Schroeder takes us down history's darkest paths in his attempt to illuminate the mystery behind this enigmatic figure. As a young lawyer during the Algerian war, Vergès espoused the anti-colonialist cause and defended Djamila Bouhired, 'la Pasionaria,' who bore her country's hopes for freedom on her shoulders and was sentenced to death for planting bombs in cafes. He obtained her release, married her and had two children with her. Then suddenly, at the height of an illustrious career, Vergès disappeared without trace for eight years. He re-emerged from his mysterious absence, taking on the defense of terrorists of all kinds, from Magdalena Kopp and Anis Naccache to Carlos the Jackal. He represented historical monsters such as Nazi lieutenant Klaus Barbie. From the lawyer's inflammatory and provocative cases to his controversial terrorist links, Barbet Schroeder follows the winding trail left by this 'devil's advocate,' as he forges his unique path in law and politics. Schroeder explores and questions the history of "blind terrorism" through his penetrating investigation of this compelling man and leads us towards shocking revelations that expose long-hidden links in history.

Terror's Advocate details

Format:	12 DVD
Starring:	Jacques Vergès, Klaus Barbie, Abderrahmane Benhamida, Bachir Boumaâza, Isabelle Coutant-Peyre, Guillaume Durand, Lionel Duroy, Hans-Joachim Klein, Magdalena Kopp, Gilles Menage
Director:	Barbet Schroeder
Genre:	Documentary - Biography, History
Studio:	FUSION MEDIA
Original title	L'Avocat de la Terreur

DVD 1 disc

Name	Discs
Terror's Advocate	12 Feature

DVD Information

Run time:	2 hours 10 minutes
Rental release:	25 Aug 2008
Main languages:	French, German, English

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Most helpful review Terror's Advocate

Fascinating insight into a enigmatic man

By StevenFowler (4 reviews) from London , 14 Oct 2008

[Highly rated reviewer]

What will surprise is the breadth and veracity of Jacques Verges activities over the last half century. It reads as a whos who of the revolutionary / terroristic movements of the world. The documentary is in depth, revelatory, and deftly constructed, but may be accused of being overlong and overtly complex. No doubt it deserves this treatment and certainly evidences its own intelligence by remaining like Verges himself, aloof, mysterious and deeply involving.
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right or wrong?

By andysbar (34 reviews) from London , 22 Dec 2011

a fascinating interview which raises the moral questions at the heart of the legal system does everyone have the right to be defended including terrorists
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Great but frustrating

By KiwiBen (4 reviews) from East Ilsley , 04 May 2009

Brilliant documentary that puts accross a different point of view.

But it frustrates that all these Terrorists are free to chat to try and justify what they have done.
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Terror's Advocate

By a customer from Northwich , 10 Dec 2008

If you're expecting a documentary about the life of Jacques Verges, you'll be disappointed. You may also, like me, struggle to read the subtitles and simultaneously take in the vivid archive footage. On the other hand, this documentary has enough strengths to make it worth watching: in examining Verges' links with terrorists it forms a useful review of terrorism throughout mainland Europe in the '70s and '80s. There are also some fascinating interviews with former terrorists and, as mentioned earlier, the archive footage is excellent.
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Fascinating insight into a enigmatic man

By StevenFowler (4 reviews) from London , 14 Oct 2008

What will surprise is the breadth and veracity of Jacques Verges activities over the last half century. It reads as a whos who of the revolutionary / terroristic movements of the world. The documentary is in depth, revelatory, and deftly constructed, but may be accused of being overlong and overtly complex. No doubt it deserves this treatment and certainly evidences its own intelligence by remaining like Verges himself, aloof, mysterious and deeply involving.
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