Participant (USA): 25

Charlie Wilson’s War (2007), an American biographical comedy-drama, tells the story of Congressman Charlie Wilson and CIA agent Gust Avrakotos. The duo worked together to establish Operation Cyclone, a program aimed at supporting Afghan mujahideen during the Soviet–Afghan War (1979–1989). Directed by Mike Nichols and written by Aaron Sorkin, based on George Crile III’s book, the film follows Congressman Wilson in 1980 as he focuses more on partying than his legislative duties. His lavish lifestyle eventually ...

The American drama film, The Visitor (2007), was written and directed by Tom McCarthy and produced by Michael London and Mary Jane Skalski. Walter Vale, a widowed economics professor from Connecticut College, leads a mostly solitary life. He occupies his time by occasionally taking piano lessons in honor of his late wife, a renowned concert pianist, and rarely works on his latest book. Despite not being entirely enthusiastic about it, he is asked to present a paper at an academic conference at New York University as the ...

Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) is a riveting historical drama directed by George Clooney that delves into the world of American television news. At a gathering titled ‘A Salute to Edward R Murrow’ on October 25, 1958, Murrow delivers a powerful speech addressing Senator McCarthy and other prominent figures. The film then transports us back to October 14, 1953 at CBS Studios, where an on-screen caption reveals McCarthy’s claim of over 200 Communists in the US government. With this latest development, Fred Friendly and the news team discuss potential stories for their upcoming episodes. Murrow makes it ...

Syriana (2005), an American political thriller film written and directed by Stephen Gaghan, is loosely based on Robert Baer’s 2003 memoir See No Evil. The movie was filmed in over 200 locations across five continents, including the Middle East, Washington D.C., and Africa. In an interview with Charlie Rose, Gaghan revealed that the film draws from his personal experiences meeting and interviewing powerful figures such as oil owners, media moguls, lobbyists, ...

North Country (2005), directed by Niki Caro, is an American drama film. In 1989, Josey Aimes flees her abusive husband and returns to her hometown in northern Minnesota with her children Sammy and Karen. She moves in with her parents, Alice and Hank, where tensions rise due to Hank’s beliefs that Josey is promiscuous and disapproves of her having Sammy as a teenager. While working at a hair salon, Josey reconnects with an old acquaintance named Glory Dodge, who suggests she apply for a job at the local iron mine. Despite Hank’s disapproval of women working there, Josey takes the job due to its higher pay. ...