The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema & Tv
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
      • Shows
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

London Film Festival 2015

(T)Error

London Film Festival 2015: (T)Error | Review
10 October 2015
Mersa Auda
Avatar
Mersa Auda
10 October 2015

Movie and show review

Mersa Auda

(T)Error

★★★★★

Links

TwitterFacebookWebsite

Special event

It is a well-known fact that the FBI is actively engaged in its anti-terrorism campaign and that hundreds have been charged since the war on terrorism began. What is shrouded in ambiguity are the methods adopted to gather evidence. Directed by Lyric R Cabral and David Felix Sutcliffe, (T)Error is a daring documentary offering a rare chance to witness the proceedings of the FBI from an insider’s viewpoint. The FBI’s goal is to “stop crimes before they happen,” and while this sounds like a reassuring practice, it is highly controversial from a moral perspective because when accusations are to be based on intentions alone, it is impossible to determine where one can draw the line. The general practice is to “prevent crime” by luring suspects into misbehaving, and arresting them if they take the bait, but the fault in this strategy is that someone deemed a decent citizen is arguably as likely to engage in illegal activities if offered large sums of money or increased power.

The cameras follow FBI informant Saeed, an African American man contacted by an agent and asked to befriend a Muslim suspect. A Muslim himself and an ex-convict, Saeed has taken on similar assignments in the past, one of which led to the conviction of one of his close friends. The target of the current operation is Khalifah, a young Muslim convert who was raised a Protestant and now holds controversial views bordering on extremism, which he openly shares on social networks. As soon as Saeed successfully infiltrates Khalifah’s circle, there is a surprising twist in the documentary. Khalifah uses Facebook to reveal his suspicions that he is being spied on, and the filming crew, unbeknown to Saeed, contacts Khalifah to get his side of the story. Neither knows that the other is being filmed, and it suddenly becomes clear that both are pawns of a bigger game beyond their control.

Khalifah decides to hold a conference to denounce the fact that he feels persecuted by the FBI, but he is soon arrested without any solid evidence against him. The documentary strives to maintain neutrality and rather than assigning blame, it appears to be criticising the system at large and pointing out that all those involved will inevitably get stuck in a catch-22. Bold and thought-provoking, (T)Error ultimately implies that the need to find a scapegoat ends up surpassing all questions of logic and fairness. By covering just one story, the directors manage to convey the sense that a single faulty premise in the system ends up negatively affecting an entire community.

★★★★★

Mersa Auda

(T)Error does not yet have a UK release date.

For further information about the 59th London Film Festival visit here, and for more of our coverage visit here.

Related ItemsDavid Felix SutcliffeLyric R Cabralreview

More in Film festivals

Valentina

★★★★★
Emma-Jane Betts
Read More

Kiss Me Before It Blows Up

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More

Tove

★★★★★
Guy Lambert
Read More

Well Rounded

★★★★★
Emma-Jane Betts
Read More

Dramarama

★★★★★
Emma Kiely
Read More

Rūrangi

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More

Rebel Dykes

★★★★★
Emma-Jane Betts
Read More

Firebird

★★★★★
Emma Kiely
Read More

A River Runs, Turns, Erases, Replaces: An interview with filmmaker Shengze Zhu

Selina Sondermann
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Movie and show review

Mersa Auda

(T)Error

★★★★★

Links

TwitterFacebookWebsite

Special event

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • London’s best pizzas for takeaway and delivery
    Food & Drinks
  • The Year Earth Changed
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Cruise – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • SYML – Dim | EP review
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Birdy at Wilton’s Music Hall Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Ride or Die
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!
    ★★★★★
    netflix
  • Live from the Barbican: Moses Boyd
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Weezer with the LA Philharmonic and YOLA at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Secret Connection – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Live from the Barbican: Moses Boyd
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Secret Connection – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Cruise – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Birdy at Wilton’s Music Hall Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Mare of Easttown
    ★★★★★
    sky
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

London Film Festival 2015: Son of Saul | Review
London Film Festival 2015: Madame Courage | Review