Unthinkable (2010)

Movie Analysis

Submitted by:

Nicah P. Acojon

BSA 1-2

Submitted to:

Prof. Reagan A. Gonzales

Ethics

GEED 10093

A.Y. 2018-2019
 UNTHIKABLE (2010): MOVIE ANALYSIS
The movie started with the video of an American citizen named Stephen Arthur
Younger. He introduced himself as Yusuf and told the government he placed three
nuclear bombs in three American cities. This news slowly spread to American public
and the FBI began working on it.
Agent Helen, one of the higher FBI agents, with H, a well-known interrogator, met
the military, discussed matters regarding Yusuf’s bombing threat, his capability to make
such bombs and his captivity under military terms. H is asked to make Yusuf confess
regarding the location of the three nuclear bombs.
H, in order to make the terrorist confess, tortured him. Various means of torturing
such as cutting his fingers, engaging him into electric shock, beating him, putting plastic
or cover on his head, letting him drink a huge liter of water and forcing him to vomit are
presented in the movie. Torturing doesn’t only cover physical means but also the
psychological ones like the death of Johani in front of Yusuf and the fear of the terrorist
when H planned on hurting his children. This part can be affiliated with the utilitarianism
wherein one is being sacrificed for the greater good.
Utilitarianism’s main goal is the happiness of the many despite the pain of one or
few. Thus, in utilitarianism, H torturing Yusuf is a rightful action. If he would be able to
make Yusuf confess where the nuclear bombs are located, thousands of people would
be safe ‒ the greater good.
The Ivan’s challenge discussed at one of the meetings also fall on this ethical
standard as it is just to make one suffer for the benefit of the many. Another example of
utilitarianism is the film wherein a train operator needs to choose between sacrificing his
son or the lives of the many. Applying utilitarianism, he chose to lose his child for the
safety of everyone in the train.
As a human being, it is innate to us to feel empathy towards the pain of others.
Other people inside Yusuf’s interrogation place don’t like what H had done but H
insisted that he is doing the right way for the betterment of everyone else but later,
these people who don’t want to torture Yusuf started to take the side of H. There was a
scene in the movie wherein H doesn’t want to continue torturing Yusuf but the people
around him wanted to – insisting it is his duty.
Kant, in his Deontology, explained that one can propose his own law and make it
universal. H formulated the idea of torturing Yusuf to make him confess the location of
the bombs and his persistent reminder to everyone that his action is a must made
everyone adopt and believe that it is the right thing to do. Kant further discussed that
this ethical framework states that an action is good if it follows certain rules while
performing a specific task instead of the consequences it may produce. In the late part
of the movie, H insisted that he must fulfill his duty without thinking of the consequences
such as killing Johani, the wife of Yusuf.
Yusuf is the perfect epitome of a Muslim fighting for the prosperity of their religion
and their independence from any imperialism by powerful countries such as America.
He insisted on making the US president publicly announce the complete freedom of
Muslim countries and people out of their sheets.
If one would reminisce the 9/11 World Trade Center attack, Muslims were also
the reason of this tragedy. They hijacked two airplanes and intentionally crashed the
planes to the twin towers of World Trade Center. It is said that this terrorism event is a
form of vengeance for Muslims because US is interfering with them.
Recently in our country, Marawi was occupied by the Maute forces of ISIS
(Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), the Abu Sayyaf and the terrorist Isnilon Hapilon. Their
main purpose for engaging into that siege was to make Christian people living in
Mindanao denounces their faith to Jesus Christ. This is where the ethics of St. Aquinas
occur.
St. Thomas Aquinas stated religion as a form of ethical standard. Religion
provides the rightful principles and virtues that humans must follow. However, faith is
not enough to make people comply and live peacefully. The decision to follow what their
Holy Scriptures or Supreme Being said and act lies in our will to do so.
Muslims tend to make improvised explosive devices (IED) in their terrorism
attacks but it is one’s choice if he would do such or not. Muslims are known for
sacrificing themselves in the name of their religion but it will still be one’s decision if he
would accept this task or not. Yusuf’s bravery with his statement that this is his fate
shows his strong faith to uphold his religion and to sacrifice himself for the sake of
performing his said task.
After confessing the location of the three nuclear bombs, H insisted that there is
still a fourth bomb but Agent Helen that they could have just let the bomb off. H’s theory
is proven correct as before the movie ends, the fourth bomb is revealed near the third
bomb, having its countdown until its detonation.
The movie is, indeed, ethically challenging. The firmness of Yusuf’s decision to
accept all the forms of torture they give to him without telling them the location of the
bombs, H’s choice of torturing the said terrorist and even involving his wife and children
and Agent Helen’s empathy towards the pain the Yusuf felt are representations of
different ethical actions for various people.
If I would be in the film’s situation, I would choose to torture Yusuf and pose
threat to his family but not to the same point as H, I won’t kill Johani in front of Yusuf
and will only seriously threaten Yusuf of torturing his kids but won’t resort to physical
violence for the innocent ones. H showed no mercy in making the terrorist confess but if
I were in H’s position, I would have talked to him calmly in some moments just like what
Agent Helen did.