Watch Drone

Drone is a 2014 thriller directed by Tonje Hessen Schei that explores the moral implications and emotional toll of operating combat drones. The film features real-life interviews with drone pilots and survivors of drone strikes, as well as fictional dramatizations of the psychological trauma that drone warfare can inflict. The movie follows the story of Neil (played by actor Brandon Bryant), a former US Air Force lieutenant who operated Predator drones over Afghanistan and other war zones for several years. Neil, who is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is haunted by the guilt and responsibility of having killed innocent civilians while targeting suspected terrorists.

Throughout the film, Neil grapples with the morality of his actions and the effects they have had on his life and the lives of others. He speaks candidly about the dehumanizing nature of using drones to kill people thousands of miles away, often based on imperfect intelligence, and how that can lead to a breakdown of empathy and accountability.

Alongside Neil's personal story, Drone also examines the broader political and legal implications of drone warfare. The film features interviews with drone experts, human rights activists, and lawyers who argue that drone strikes violate international law and are often carried out without proper oversight or transparency.

This is illustrated through the story of Zubair (played by actor Zubair Rehman), a young boy from a Pakistani village who becomes the victim of a US drone strike that kills his grandmother and injures him and his sister. Zubair's family speaks with anger and frustration about the apparent lack of accountability and compensation for their loss, and the lasting trauma that the attack has caused.

Another figure who is central to the film's broader themes is John Bellinger III, a former legal adviser to both the Bush and Obama administrations who played a key role in crafting the US government's legal justification for drone strikes. Bellinger offers a defense of the legality and necessity of drone warfare, arguing that it is an effective tool for fighting terrorism and minimizing civilian casualties.

Overall, Drone is a powerful and thought-provoking examination of a highly controversial and complex aspect of modern warfare. Through its mix of real-life interviews and fictional dramatizations, the film succeeds in conveying both the human toll of drone strikes and the broader political and ethical debates surrounding them. Though it is an emotionally challenging watch, Drone is an important and timely film that offers important insights into one of the defining issues of our time.