Kathryn Bigelow Defends Torture Scenes in "Zero Dark Thirty"

"Zero Dark Thirty" director Kathryn Bigelow broke her silence finally and defended her film, about the assassination of Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden executed by the US army. Some critics and senates criticized the film and the torture scenes in it and felt the film justified the violent interrogation that led to locating Bin Laden.

Bigelow said she brought the reality to the screen and this doesn't justify any violence in that operation or sends out a message that she is condoning it. On the contrary, she felt as a director that she was obligated to portray the real stories of true events. In her statement to the LA Times, Bigelow wondered "if some of the sentiments alternately expressed about the film might be more appropriately directed at those who instituted and ordered these U.S. policies, as opposed to a motion picture that brings the story to the screen." She also said that no artist or a writer would be able to portray any controversial issue or current situation if they had to justify what they represent.

"Zero Dark Thirty" is nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture and was on top of the North American box office last week.