This story -- about a man radicalized into joining something like a cross between Al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood, committing to carrying out a suicide bombing, and living with a peaceful, modern Muslim family as he prepares to carry out the deed -- would have been tempting to play as a story of redemption (in fact other film treating similar subject matter, like "The Terrorist" have gone that route).I like that it doesn't take the easy way out. There's quite a lot to like about this film just generally, as a matter of fact. In the midst of the fog of facile nonsense that surrounds the War on Terror, it's a rare film that actually has the courage to treat the motivations for terrorism seriously alongside both its manifest evils, and the evils of those whose misdeeds radicalize the terrorists in the first place. Hassan, once an affable modern Muslim youth like his friends, comes back as a shadow (or an image in negative) of his former self after being kidnapped in France and sent off to a "black facility" to be tortured. The torture is shown sparingly, but vividly, never letting us forget what brought this man to this point.Yet it doesn't let terrorism off the hook either. It's telling that Hassan and his Brotherhood contacts have no really coherent strategic idea of what their planned attack is supposed to accomplish. For Hassan it's religious duty and martyrdom, a personal act of revenge and catharsis -- but he never seems to confront the disconnect between his act and any actual solution to the injustices he rages about. For him and his comrades the redemption of the act seems to be in its scale and bravura; confronted with the prospect of having to merely "blow themselves up on a bus like Palestinians," a scenario no less meaningless and self-defeating than their own plan but more obviously pathetic, they begin to come to pieces.Hassan is also distinctly and convincingly uncomfortable when faced with the modern, tolerant Islam of his friend Sayeed and his family, as if he fears being sapped of his purpose. But again the film avoids easy answers: Sayeed for his part senses something dark going on beneath his friend's newfound piety, but when he finally confirms his suspicions and calls the police, he -- realistically -- isn't rewarded by an encounter with storybook good guys. Instead he vanishes into the same black bag system that took Hassan, the cycle beginning all over again.Overall, a must-see film for anyone who wants to understand the nature of the "War on Terror."

After seeing "Paradise Now", I was interested to see another depiction of the life and motivation of a suicide bomber. "The War Within" was certainly a great dramatization of such a person. Hassan is "renditioned" and tortured, providing him with a target for his hate. He is fueled by religious fanaticism that surprises his friends and fellow Muslims. Firdous Bamji plays, in my opinion, the best role in the film, that of Sayeed. He is surprised at how his best friend could become such a "pious" and fanatic character, and tries and fails to convince Hassan that America has done some good for him and that he has integrated well into the West.The love story could have been expanded, but only for the purpose of showing how Hassan has repressed every emotion except hate. I also thought Sayeed's fate did not ring true, as it seems to me the screenwriters decided to have what happens to him happen only to further their point that the cycle of detention and terror will continue. I do not believe that, in reality, what happened to Sayeed would happen.Overall, an interesting dramatization of what motivates a suicide bomber, and also of Muslim-American life.

I always love reading reviews of anti-American movies by anti-American Americans who will almost always claim a movie is "brillaint" and "needs to be seen" just as long as the story has a string of anti-Americanism in it.America is bad! Bush is evil! The world would be a better place without America in it! The only thing missing from "The War Within"? Poor Muslim children being beaten with clubs by Evil American CIA agents. What, don't you know? All CIA agents are eeeeeeeeeeeeeevil. Why, if it wasn't for America and the CIA, the world would be one big happy village! A regular campfire where we could all roast marshmellows and whatnot.Remember, kids, Muslims Good, Americans Bad! CIA Evil! Bush dumb! Brilliant!

True, as the New York Times said, there wasn't much subtext, and some opportunities were missed- but I fell into this film and ended up liking it a lot. The actor who plays HASSAN was truly wonderful, with very little dialogue. I felt his pain, and was interested in his journey.And the shots of him walking around New York, wired for action, were truly harrowing. The ending was beautifully done- clearly on a budget, but much more effective- and the family was terrific, in particular the father and the little boy.All the acting was fine, as was the music and the photography. My only beef was with the script, which did feel a bit thin at times, but the STORY itself was compelling indeed.