Yemenis go to Sundance in America

When Yemeni journalist Nasser al-Arabyee (co-producer of the film The Oath)

When Yemeni journalist Nasser al-Arabyee (co-producer of the film The Oath) was invited to Sundance Film Festival last month, he didn’t immediately apply for his visa, assuming he would be denied. Abdul-Mutalab had recently attempted to detonate his explosive underwear on Northwest Airlines Flight #253, and the world’s attention was focused on Yemen.  He adds, “I was afraid because I am Yemeni and I had just co-produced a film that is slightly critical of the American government.”

He was pleasantly surprised, therefore, when he received a call encouraging him to apply for the visa by staff at the U.S. Embassy.  “They recommended me,” said Nasser, “and I received my visa in just three days.”

On January 19, he departed to America for the first time. On the flight to America, Nasser says that one man voiced concern upon learning that he was Yemeni and fidgeted in his seat nervously. “I was prepared for this,” Nasser says. “I was prepared for Americans to have negative perceptions of Yemen.”  Nasser introduced himself, and they had a good conversation. The man later apologized for his reaction and said it was “because of the news.”

At JFK Airport, Nasser was held for six hours for security checks with American agents. He says he was patient, but that internally, he was cursing to himself. “I wasn’t cursing the Americans. I was cursing the criminals like Abdul-Mutalab.”

Abdul-Ghani al-Iriyani, project advisor for the film, traveled to Sundance separately. Unlike Nasser, he had spent much time in America, having studied at Portland State, and had even embarked on a road trip from Seattle to Boston. His experience in security was much better than Nasser’s; it only took one hour. Regarding his experience with Americans, he says, “Americans are polite people, and they want to give you the benefit of the doubt.”

Abdul-Ghani classifies the reactions he receives from Americans to his nationality in three distinct periods-Pre-Chandler, Chandler, and post-Chandler-a reference to the popular Friends sitcom where Chandler Bing escapes his annoyingly nasal girlfriend Janice by boarding a flight to Yemen.

He clarifies that in the pre-Chandler period Yemen was a complete unknown. The Chandler period began with the airing of the episode, and Americans now smiled, referenced the episode, and asked questions about the country. Now, he says that the post-Chandler era has emerged, and conversations focus not on television sitcoms but on al-Qaeda and terrorism. “We see a lot of Yemen in the news these days,” an American man observed.

Many Americans asked Abdul-Ghani how he manages to live in a “dangerous” country like Yemen to which he cites a community relations study he conducted for a mining company. He discovered in his research that in Wadi Harib (an area that he says went through a ten-year period of being in a constant state of tribal war) the murder rate was only very slightly higher than that of the DC area during the same period.

Nasser spent several days in New York before traveling to Utah. His first tourist site was the Statue of Liberty. “I was astounded by the individual freedom in America. I believe the strength of the USA is in its freedom. It was tangible; I could see it at all levels of society with my own eyes.”

He then visited Ground Zero, the location of the event that changed the world. He commented on the experience, “It made me deeply sad” he says. “I could just think about evil. How can we reduce this evil?”

The events of 9/11, funded and overseen by Osama bin Laden, earned Yemen the tagline “the ancestral homeland of Osama bin Laden” in the western media. Nasser scowls, “I have hated this sentence from the beginning. I don’t want Osama bin Laden to have any relation to Yemen, or anyone who supports him either.”

Abdul-Ghani did not visit Ground Zero. “I did not think that it would be a good experience. I’d been to New York before 9/11. I have very fond memories there. The images of people jumping out of windows, they are difficult to erase from your memory. These images will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

However, he adds, “I think that in a way, this event caused more damage to Yemen than to the U.S.  In the America 3000 people died. As a consequence, wars were waged, and the consequences to countries like Yemen have been bad. In particular, the Iraq War was fought in response to 9/11 and it has radicalized many people in Yemen. The effects of this are felt strongly in Yemen’s security and economy.”

It was then time for Sundance, the largest annual, independent film festival in America. Celebrities and paparazzi flocked to Utah where the festival is divided between Park City, Ogden, Salt Lake City, and the Sundance Resort. Abul-Ghani said he didn’t know any of the celebrities except one. “I recognized Lucy Liu from Charlie’s Angels” he laughs.

Several hundred people showed up for the sold out premier of The Oath on January 20. It was favorably received and won the Excellency in Cinematography Award for a U.S. Documentary. After the showing, the floor was open for questions. The American audience wondered why ex-bin Laden bodyguard Nasser al-Bahri was portrayed as a loving family man as opposed to a violent terrorist.

Abdul-Ghani said, “People were challenged and confused. It sparked debate about the ethics of dealing with al-Qaeda--as if terrorism is the absolute worst possible crime ever. I think this film challenges this idea.” He adds, “It wasn’t as if he was portrayed favorably. We just gave them the facts, and they can form their own opinions.”

Nasser al-Arabyee said that the American audience was curious about Yemen, but had misconceptions. “Because of the news, many people think that it is like Tora Bora, but I help them to see it differently. I have personally changed many American’s opinions about Yemen.”

In the end, Sundance was an enjoyable experience for the Yemenis, and there were few films, if any, that were more relevant.  When asked if The Oath will have an impact on Yemen’s image, the practical Abdul-Ghani stated, “It will take more than one film to see results.” Nasser, the idealist, says he is optimistic.