I have just finished watching Shadow Company, a documentary about the world of mercenaries/PMCs.
Director Nick Bicanic was kind enough to send me a copy of the film, which premieres at the SXSW Film Festival in Texas on March 10.
The main focus is on Iraq, but it also looks at Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea, and even at mercenary outfits from the medieval English companies to the A-Team.
The core strength of the film is in the calibre of its interviewees. As well as a variety of figures from the industry, such as Cobus Classens, formerly of Executive Outcomes, and Alan Bell of Globe Risk, it includes commentators such as academic Peter Singer, journalist Madelaine Drohan, author Robert Young Pelton and industry spokesman Doug Brooks.
Shadow Company is an excellent introduction to the world of mercenaries, and how their role has grown in recent years. It raises important questions but doesn’t pass judgements, and will be of interest to people on both sides of the issue.
Keep any on the forum at the Shadow Company website for release details.
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