Disbelief (2004) User Reviews

A very compelling docudrama.

[benjamcud · 7/10 · 9 February 2011]

While the invasion of Dagestan has always officially been the given as the reason for the start of the second Chechen conflict, that began on the 5th of August, 1999, and was immediately retaliated against with Russian bombings in the region. And while an outright declaration of war against Chechnya was made on August 29th of 1999, it was not extremely popular with the Russian general public, and so Russian troops did not enter Chechnya until Oct. 1st of 1999, more than three weeks after the apartment bombings. The Russian authorities immediately accused Chechen rebels (a.k.a. Muslim terrorists) of responsibility for these bombings, and this in turn, galvanized the public opinion in support of the second war in Chechnya. For a more accurate time line of events I suggest: http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-satter043002.asp. However, all pertinent information about the time lines can be easily accessed on the web. While I am certainly in no way a supporter of Muslim terrorism, or conspiracy theories in general, and while terrible atrocities were committed by both sides before, and during, the conflict, to suggest that these (apartment) bombings were merely coincidental, and that little or no proof exists that they were state sponsored terror, is the worst type of 'propaganda' I can think of. This is a reasonably accurate documentary, and I admire its makers courage and determination.

Worthwhile documentary

[JohnSeal · 7/10 · 29 March 2005]

In 1999, a Moscow apartment building was destroyed by a massive explosion. The government of Vladimir Putin immediately ascribed responsibility for the blast to Chechen separatists, setting in motion the Second Chechen War and paving the way for a Putin election victory. This Russian made film bravely suggests that perhaps there was more than a hint of subterfuge involved. Focussing on the personal loss of Tanya Morozova, a school teacher now living in Milwaukee whose mother was killed in the blast, the film has a tendency to linger a bit too long during scenes of personal grief but is on very firm ground with its indictment of the police force's complicity in the tragedy. If you don't believe that the powers that be will go to any lengths to manipulate your opinion, watch this film.

morally courageous

[brian-griffey · 10/10 · 19 November 2006]

Disbelief is an elegant and artful work of moral courage. The filmmakers at great personal risk pieced together media, public, and clandestine faces of one of the most influential and least known tragedies of our time. Through the voices of two sisters who have restlessly sought out the truth behind the deaths of their family in the 1999 Moscow apartment bombing, and a variety of others attempting to assist them, Disbelief realizes the capacity of documentary film to indict even seemingly untouchable authorities and make them account for their actions. But the film also speaks to the daunting machinery of power, and the disregard for human life in its brokering. This story has not yet ended, and is working itself out in politics that affect all of us still.

nicely made propaganda piece

[bigeyesforbeauty · 1/10 · 5 December 2006]

1. for those who don't know the second Chechen war started in August 1999, a moth before the explosions in Moscow and Volgodonsk. It started with unprovoked invasion of the Chechen guerrillas of Dagestan. They invaded Dagestan with the aim to create a joint Chechen-Dagestani Muslim state. From 2 of August Russia was already at war with Chechnya and there was absolutely no motive for the special forces of Russia to bomb the houses in Moscow in September. This simple fact is constantly ignored by all the conspiracy theory adepts, who link the bombings of the houses with the beginning of the second Chechen war. 2. although, there was a lot of disturbingly unclear about the Ryazan 'training', it in itself doesn't prove anything. This is the only part of the movie which actually contributes in any way to the conspiracy theory. 3. This so-called documentary makes no effort to present the full picture of what was going on, neither is it interested in any facts or allegations that don't conform to the preconceived notion of the director. The final scenes of Chechen mothers weeping over their dead kids shown in a row with the Russian women who have lost their relatives in the bombings and all this after a ridiculous interview with Zakaev is but a cheap and disgusting attempt to play on the viewers' emotions to press home the director's point. 4.Zakaev's interview is put in the movie to give more credibility to the director's idea, but it is just ridiculous. I almost fell from the chair when he said that the Chechens couldn't be behind this because it was so barbaric and even the 'frozen' ones wouldn't dare to to this as they wouldn't find a place in the Chechen community after committing such a barbaric act of terror. Mr Zakaev obviously forgot Budenovsk, Kizlyar, the slave trade, the public executions, the cutting off of the heads of the Western journalists, and all the sh*t that was going on in his little jihad paradise during 1995-2000. All those people who are responsible for those acts lived comfortably in Ichkeria until Russians hunted down and eliminated them one by one. So, overall, this is the nicely cut propaganda piece for the western public. I've heard the next work of this director will be a film on Litvinenko or Yushekno's poisoning and it's gonna be made with the money of Berezovsky.