2006: Jehane Noujaim

Control RoomIt is no secret that many problems in this world come from cultures not understanding each other and being unaware of how the other side thinks.  In this world, we often need people who have lived both sides to show us the way.  It is not that they inherently know better, but in trying to come to their own identity, they are forced to examine these issues.  I view Jehane Noujaim this way.  With one parent Egyptian and the other American, she grew up in both countries and came to see the Love-Hate Relationship firsthand.  A few weeks before the Iraq war, she found herself with access to the media of both the western world through the US Military Central Command Offices and the Middle East through Al Jazeera.  Using this access, she produced the film Control Room.  In her TEDTalk, she shows clips that present both sides talking about how the war is affecting them and adjusting their views.   Much of the film itself is small clips pieced together into a documentary. Showing this film in both the US and the Middle East brought people to recognize the humanity on both sides.  As described by one American, seeing the bombs loaded into the plane does not make it as real as seeing footage of people injured.  Similarly, people in the Middle East fell in love with some of the American military in the film, enough that one of them now works at Al Jazeera.

For these efforts, she received a TEDPrize 2006 where was granted one wish.  Her wish is world peace, but she brings it down to something attainable, Pangea Cinema Day.  On this day, short films on universal topics will be shown around the world simultaneously in hope that those who watch will come to a greater understanding of the cultures around them.  This will hopefully lead to greater compassion and tolerance for those around them.  I found what was shown of her video video very exciting.  Her wish is interesting.  I tend to not be inspired by worldwide events such as Live Earth, but it might be worth a try.  Although this takes a similar approach to her documentary, I fear that it won't have the same individual impact since it won't focus as much on a single (broken) relationship.  The talk is recommended though and I may see if I can get a copy of the DVD at the Boston Public Library.


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