The new Netflix documentary miniseriesSurviving Black Hawk Downis out now, and it fixes the biggest problem with the 2001 Ridley Scott movie.Ridley Scott’sBlack Hawk Downpopularized the story of the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, with it following a group of American soldiers as they attempt to rescue their compatriots from the wreckage of a helicopter and make it out of the Somali city.Surviving Black Hawk Downdelves even further into the true story, with it telling a side of the tale that the originalBlack Hawk Downmovie was criticized for not covering.
Surviving Black Hawk Downis a three-episode miniseriesthat recounts the events that led up to the Battle of Mogadishu, the escape from the city, and the events following America’s exit from Somalia. Throughout the docuseries, severalU.S. Army Rangers, Delta Force soldiers, and other American military personnel are interviewed, giving their first-hand accounts of the Black Hawk Down Incident. While hearing the story from their perspective is interesting, the American soldiers aren’t the only individuals thatSurviving Black Hawk Downhighlights.
Black Hawk Down Has Been Criticized For Dehumanizing The Somalis
Their Side Of The Story Isn’t Shown
Black Hawk Downis a critically acclaimed movie, but it has been criticized for one major element: its handling of the Somalis. Throughout the Ridley Scott film, the Somalis are dehumanized, with their side of the story not getting explored at all.The Somalis are presented as nothing more than aggressive enemy combatants, with the American characters fighting their way through the crowds of Mogadishu without much care for the people they are killing. This is a problem that some critics noted whenBlack Hawk Downwas first released, and the criticism has only gotten more common over time.
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After the release ofBlack Hawk Down, the Somali Justice Advocacy Center in California and Minnesota both denounced the film, with the Minnesota branch even calling for a boycott (viaZNetwork).The New York Times' Elvis Mitchell,Entertainment Weekly’s Owen Gleiberman,Philadelphia Weekly’s Sean Burns, and more pointed out the problematic depiction of Somalis inBlack Hawk Down. The dehumanization of the Somalis is one of the most glaring issues withBlack Hawk Down, with it being an aspect of the film that has aged terribly since its release.
Netflix’s Surviving Black Hawk Down Gives The Somalis' Perspective On October 3-4
They Are Given An Equal Focus
Netflix’sSurviving Black Hawk Downtakes things in a different direction, as it spends a lot of time giving the Somalis' perspective on the events of October 3 and 4. The series prominently features interviews with Ahmed “Five,” the Somali cameramanwho recorded Mike Durant’s hostage video, as well as several other famous videos from the Battle of Mogadishu. The documentary also features Somali soldiers who fought in General Aidid’s army, families who had their homes raided by American soldiers, citizens who were schoolchildren at the time of the battle, and more.
Surviving Black Hawk Downalso highlights the differences in the recounting of the events between the Americans and the Somalis. At several points throughout the series,the interviewees give contradictory accounts of the events that took place. The Americans tend to frame their involvement in a more positive light, while the Somalis paint the actions of the Americans in a much more negative light.Surviving Black Hawk Downmanages not to take a side, with the use of both perspectives addressing the issue with theBlack Hawk Downmovie.
Surviving Black Hawk Down Criticizes The American Military (Unlike The Movie)
It Takes A More Critical Look At The Battle Of Mogadishu
Another change betweentheBlack Hawk DownmovieandSurviving Black Hawk Downis that the documentary is far more critical of the American military. While the filmmakers are not verbally criticizing the military themselves, their choice to include the Somali’s views on the Americans as well as many of the interviews with the American soldiers paint America’s involvement in Somalia in a much more negative light.
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For example, the documentary ends with some of the Somali subjects discussing the disproportionate death toll between Somalis and Americans throughout the Battle of Mogadishu. Delta Force soldier Tom Satterly also criticizes the United States for not training soldiers on how to cope with their time at war when they get back home. Several revealing moments also feature the various soldiers talking about how violent they were while fighting their way out of Mogadishu, with these being some of the most eye-opening parts ofSurviving Black Hawk Down.
