The War Within (Over the Mountains) (2005)

72% of critics liked it
(58 reviews)
64% of users liked it
(837 ratings)

The war on terror has an unusual effect on one man in this independent drama. Hassan (Ayad Akhtar) was an engineering student from Pakistan who, while studying in Paris, was one of several Pakistani students arrested by intelligence officers on suspicion of participating in international terrorist… More The war on terror has an unusual effect on one man in this independent drama. Hassan (Ayad Akhtar) was an engineering student from Pakistan who, while studying in Paris, was one of several Pakistani students arrested by intelligence officers on suspicion of participating in international terrorist activities. Hassan was innocent of any crimes, but it took him hours to convince the authorities of this. By the time Hassan was released, his attitude about the West had begun to change, and in time he began to identify with the terrorists with whom he had been unwittingly associated. Hassan then renounces his old life, joins a radical group, and illegally slips into the United States with the aim of staging a major terrorist action in New York City. Hassan comes to stay with an old friend, Sayeed (Firdous Bamji), and his family; Hassan has told Sayeed and his wife (Sarita Choudhury) that he's come to New York in search of a job, but in time Sayeed suspects his friend has a different agenda in mind. The War Within was screened as part of the 2005 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Joseph Castelo
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Sep 30, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Jan 31, 2006
Studio: Magnolia Pictures

Critic Reviews

Jason Anderson, Globe and Mail
Akhtar, who also co-wrote the screenplay, is unable to convey Hassan's internal conflicts with any force.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
Very good.
John Anderson, Newsday
Madly rational and persuasive political drama.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
Well-made, well-informed and apparently well-meant psychological thriller.
Teresa Wiltz, Washington Post
Call it a portrait of a mild-mannered zealot, one that seeps under the skin and unsettles the nerves.
Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle
The picture couldn't be more topical, but in the end it feels schematic, and you sense that the filmmakers are trying too hard to be even-handed.
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher
This is a film to unnerve any New Yorker, as it wanders city landmarks, like Grand Central Terminal, with destruction in mind...
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
Slow moving yet thoroughly engrossing...
Angela Baldassarre, Sympatico.ca
The premise is indeed engaging, but the conversations are simplistic.
Jim Slotek, Jam! Movies
An affecting portrait of the torturous schism between radical Muslims and those who've embraced the West.
Andrea Chase, Killer Movie Reviews
that most wonderful of cinema experiences, one that embraces complexity with both intelligence and an even hand. The DVD only deepens the appreciation for its accomplishment.
Phil Villarreal, Arizona Daily Star
You glance at Hassan with sympathy, which is immediately neutralized by the assurance that this man would kill you without a thought in the name of his god. You pray to yours that he'll change his mind.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
You just can't believe Hassan can see so much innocent humanity and still choose mass murder. And then Hassan quietly intones "God is great," and you realize he can no longer see them at all.
Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune
Castelo, working with a meager budget and few familiar faces..., adroitly turns Hassan's moral and religious struggle into a tension-building experience.
Marta Barber, Miami Herald
The storyline in The War Within is far from fluid and, at times, overwrought. But it doesn't stop the film from capturing one's interest.
Todd Jorgenson, Denton Record Chronicle (TX)
...a challenging film that builds to a riveting climax and is certain to spark discussion across partisan lines.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
The very model of the self-hating liberal consciousness; no matter his better intentions, he finds himself blaming the victim for the crime.
Eric D. Snider, EricDSnider.com
Taut and suspenseful even when it's just being introspective.
Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle
It's thanks to Akhtar's standout performance that The War Within is as electrifying as it is.
Shawn Levy, Oregonian
Almost everything that happens feels true and horrifying, and yet it's done so well you can't look away.

Read all 20 critic reviews

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Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"The War Within" starts with Hassan(Ayad Akhtar) walking down a street in Paris minding his own business when he is unceremoniously snatched by authorities. He is sent to Pakistan under the practice of extraordinary rendition to be tortured about… More
[font=Century Gothic]"The War Within" starts with Hassan(Ayad Akhtar) walking down a street in Paris minding his own business when he is unceremoniously snatched by authorities. He is sent to Pakistan under the practice of extraordinary rendition to be tortured about terrorist activities he knows nothing about.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Three years later, Hassan is a changed man. He is smuggled into the United States, as part of a terrorist cell, targeting New York City landmarks. Hassan is assigned Grand Central Station.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"The War Within" is a quietly chilling, subtle and stunning movie that takes a disparaging view of the War on Terror while offering no easy answers. Overall, the movie is sympathetic for the vast majority of Muslims who are caught in the middle between the government that automatically suspects them of violent activities and terrorists who pervert their religion for their own nefarious goals. Remember, the surest way to radicalize somebody is to arrest, torture and then place them in the company of fanatics. [/font]

Cast

            Ayad Akhtar as Hassan

            Firdous Bamji as Sayeed

            Nandana Sen as Duri

            Sarita Choudhury as Farida

            John Ventimiglia as Gabe

            Varun Sriram as Ali

            Aasif Mandvi as Abdul

            Ajay Naidu as Naveed

            Mike McGlone as Mike O'Reilly

            Robert Martin Carroll as Agent #2

            Jeff Ward as CIA Agent #2

            Manny Siverio as Stunt Coordinator

            Per Melita as Terrorist

            David Connolly as Male Passenger #2

            Roy Farfel as CIA Agent #1

            David Bishins as Tall Agent

            Kamal Marayati as Imam Hamza

            Angel Desai as Reporter

            Charles Daniel Sandoval as Khalid

            Goli Samii as Female Passenger

            Samrat Chakrabarti as Chief Inspector Khan

            Anjeli Chapman as Rasheeda

            Wayman Ezell as Izzy

            James Rana as Saudi Man

            Chritopher Castelo as Steven

            Christine Commesso as News Anchorwoman

            John Zibell as Officer Carroll

            Joseph Ascolese as Cop #1

            Douglas Paretti as Cop #2

            Michael Balsely as Agent #1

            Glenn Pike as CIA Agent #3

            Vanessa Landino as Receptionist

            Deepti Gupta as Woman #1

            Farah Bala as Woman #2

            Deepa Purohit as Woman #3

            Troy Hall as Male Passenger #1

            Dianne Busch as Ticket Clerk
See full cast