Battle In Seattle

Aroview: Seattle’s infamous 1999 World Trade Organisation protests are analysed in this fictional, yet vivid recreation of events, shot admirably from both a protestor’s and policing point-of-view.

Adopting a familiar narrative model for large ensembles – that of multiple intersecting storylines – actor-turned-director Townsend’s broad vision is clearly too ambitious for a feature-length, resulting in a less-than-satisfying human drama with predicable turns. Elsewhere though, the film’s depiction of the anti-WTO riots is exhilarating and fierce, with actual footage blended seamlessly with the actors’ gusto for urban warfare. Among the cast, Kiwi Martin Henderson mobilises troops as the protest’s key campaigner.