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GRITtv: From Baghdad to Brooklyn
Last December, videojournalist Jennifer Utz and Mohamed, an Iraqi refugee, talked about Mohamed's journey from Iraq to the U.S. This week, our Got Docs feature is Jennifer's documentary in production, "From Baghdad to Brooklyn," telling Mohamed's story, from his exile from Iraq after Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani called for the killing of homosexuals "in the worst, most severe way possible." Mohamed, who is gay, wound up in Syria, where Jennifer met him and took up his cause. Mohamed's story may have ended happily, but over a million Iraqis are still displaced. More of their stories are available here.
Email this pageGRITtv: Bruno: Offensive, Funny, or Just Shock Value?
Sacha Baron Cohen's new film, Bruno, premiered in theaters on Friday to mixed reviews. Several were offended by the admittedly provocative antics of Cohen onscreen. But was it offending the wrong people? Scores of people from the gay community have voiced their distaste for Cohen's depiction of homosexuals in the movie, fearing that his behavior perpetuates common stereotypes and strengthens homophobic tendencies. A scene where Bruno treats a baby like an accessory has especially angered some, in a time when the gay community is having difficulty gaining adoption rights. Others disagree, saying Bruno's character is an obvious cartoon version of the ridiculous stereotypes that have been wrongly placed on homosexuals. But in the end, Bruno is a comedy, so is it funny? And if so, do we laugh more from satire or sheer shock value? Here to discuss these questions and more we have Richard Kim of The Nation, Antoine B. Craigwell of GBMNews.com, and Shawn Edwards creator of www.iloveblackmovies.com and contributor at FoxTV.
