Sundance 2009: "Sergio" Review - Written by Mathius Mack Gertz

Sergio
USA/Iran, 2008, 94min., color
Genre: Documentary
Director: Greg Barker
Executive Producers: Samantha Power, Sheila Nevins, Nick Frasier
Producers: John Battsek, Julie Goldman
Editor: Karen Schmeer
Website: www.sergiothemovie.com


Based upon the biography Chasing the Flame by Samantha Power, Sergio is the story of the United Nations go-to guy who was murdered by a terrorist bomb at U.N. Headquarters in Baghdad, in 2003. Considered by many to be a cross between James Bond and Bobby Kennedy, Sergio Viera de Mello could descend into the most dangerous places, charm the worst war criminals, and somehow protect the lives of the ordinary people to whom he had devoted his life. Newly engaged, he was looking forward to settling down with the co-worker and women of he loved. Then came the call. Persuaded by Kofi Annan, Condoleezza Rice and Tony Blair, he reluctantly took up the post of U.N. ambassador to Iraq.

Filmmaker Greg Barker gives us only little of the background and history of Sergio. Preferring instead to focus most of the screens time on the days immediately leading up to and the day of the bombing that killed Sergio and shocked the world. Devastating, disturbing and powerful, Sergio is buried alive in the blast and we watch and listen as his fiancé and military paramedics recount how they tried to extricate him and save life.

You cannot help being angry at the end of this film. However the style and feel is more akin to that used for television news stories on 60 minutes, and not a feature –length documentary film. Nevertheless it is worth seeing. Heart felt, thought provoking and upsetting. Three and a half stars.