Film Depicting President Bush’s Assassination Raises Controversy

It’s called “Death of a President” and it depicts the assassination of U.S. leader George W. Bush.

The film, made by Britain’s Channel 4, uses archival footage and computer effects to show Bush being picked off by a Syrian-born sniper during an anti-war rally in Chicago in October 2007.

In the flick, Bush arrives in the Windy City to give a speech, only to be confronted by protestors as he leaves the building. One of them is waiting in the crowd with a gun.

It’s a ‘what-if’ documentary that shows what might happen if the current Commander-in-Chief was lost to violence.

“It’s a pointed political examination of what the war on terror is doing to the American body politic,” explains Peter Dale of British digital channel More4.

But Republicans in the U.S. have other words for it, including ‘disturbing’ and ‘shocking’, and predict Americans won’t be interested in watching it. Some officials with the party have already demanded it not be shown.

“I’m sure there will be people upset by it,” Dale agrees. “I hope people will see the intention as a good one.” He hopes to spur debate using the controversial topic as a springboard.

But he won’t be getting one from the White House. It has refused comment on the movie, claiming it doesn’t dignify a response.

While that doesn’t surprise Dale, he notes that the assassination is just the prelude to a gripping story that follows.

What’s the reaction expected to be in Toronto? Equally passionate.

“It’s a very fine line,” admits Claire Hopinkson of the Toronto Arts Council. “It appears to be bordering on the line of sensationalism, but the artist may have deep rooted political convictions that he feels this kind of sensationalism is justified in this political context.”

But some feel no matter what the motive, it’s over the line. And others worry about the lesson the less stable may take away from the movie. “You don’t need to give people ideas on how to do things,” argues insurance agent Jim Lupfold. He’d refused to watch it.

If you’re not quite so reticent, you’ll have three chances when it plays here.

It’s scheduled to hit Toronto Fest screens on September 10th (8:30pm at the Paramount 3), September 12th (4:15pm also at the Paramount 3) and September 15th (7:45pm, Cumberland 3).

But if you’re curious and don’t see it then, you may not see it at all. So far, no one has picked up the rights to the film in either Canada or the U.S.

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