E-Team (2014) User Reviews

An Important Look Behind the Scenes

[gavin6942 · 7/10 · 10 December 2014]

When atrocities are committed in countries held hostage by ruthless dictators, Human Rights Watch sends in the E-Team (Emergencies Team), a collection of fiercely intelligent individuals hired to document war crimes and report them to the rest of the world.

Many people, perhaps even most people, have heard of Human Rights Watch, but few probably know what they do. You might think they just compile data and report on violations of human rights. That would be partially right. They also go into the danger zones that few others would go to, and actually see the shallow graves left behind from nasty dictators.

Although not perfect, this documentary really opens up the inner workings of Human Rights Watch, and puts a light on Assad that seems to be lacking. (Ever since the rise of the Islamic State, Assad is no longer the biggest bad guy of the Middle East.) He is no saint, and this shows us that.

Well done documentary about those who document what dictators want to hide.

[christopher256_98 · 8/10 · 10 February 2015]

E-Team is a documentary about workers for Human Rights Watch who travel to go hands on to investigate abuses and atrocities of governments inside the countries of Syria and Libya (and in the past Bosnia) and report back to the world what they have seen. There are a number people who undertake work who we see at various stages in the process, highlighting of course the most important and potentially dangerous on-the-ground interviews and collection of data. One of the people featured, Anna Neistat, the only woman of those of the four or five major character we follow, gets clearly the most presence in the film (with her being from Russia a factor given how it's Russian president Putin as the biggest backer of Syrian dictator Assad), but if anyone was to be a central kind of character it was good it was her, and generally we get to see the other rights workers in the different facets of what they're doing, both presently and a little about what they've done in the past.

Do not expect an in depth documentary about any of these brutal and often complex overseas crises. You see snippets about what's going on, but it gives far from a clear picture. The point isn't these events in themselves but how an organization may go about trying to piece together potential criminal violations within them so they can disseminate that information. On that latter basis it's a very well done, if not perfect, documentary.

One thing however I must say, though it's not a major blot on the film, is how it's sort of a missed opportunity. The wars they show here have been huge stories that have gotten much media attention. HRW has been involved all over the world, and the film could have given some welcomed attention to a place that hasn't gotten as much coverage: South Sudan or The Congo for instance. However that doesn't take away anything that is done well, and it's well worth checking out for anyone who believes ruthless dictators and war criminals need to someway and somehow be held accountable for their actions. It's about pessimism and also hope for a more just world.

Atleast now we could try to stop a genocide....

[samabc-31952 · 8/10 · 2 January 2022]

This is about 4 emergency investigators, E-Team , who visit war-torn places such as Syria and Libya as they ferret out and record the human rights violation data and abuses based on their interviews with the civilians of these countries who have been the victims of the unthinkable violence and tortures during Badha-al-Assad (current - since 2000) and Mohammad Gaddafi . These reports would then be the first step towards bringing the perpetrators to justice in the international court of law. While somewhat hoiler-than-thou attitude is discernible but these stories seem upstanding and earnest and the courage and guts of the E-Team members is absolutely laudable. The chilling stories and footage about human slaughterhouses in Libya and the sarin gas attacks in Syria will curdle your blood. A great watch.

THE BEAUTIFUL GRACE THE HUMAN SPIROT IS CAPABLE OF

[adeledemarchidelademar · 10/10 · 30 November 2022]

I just want to SINCERELY THANK THESE WONDERFUL people that do such selfless work to awaken us all on the wrongs in this world we possibly can do something about,or at least try.

I LOVE that they were true to their incredibly brave work in documenting TRULY UNBIASED FACTS .

Especially their ability to distinguish between weapons, arms of all sorts, delivery bombs and where they came from.

This is a rare look into the very confronting, extremely dangerous and scary world they go to to give those powerless to defend themselves a voice in the world forum.

Atrocities and crimes against human rights, of every kind, and level of importance are in every corner of this world.

It's relative to every individuals own world of suffering ,regardless of there being a proper war or just the war we ALL FACE of survival in this world.

It would be wonderful to be able to go and live on crown land since society is becoming ever increasingly incapable and unwilling to help the true underprivileged, and poverty stricken.

Surely as someone born in this world we deserve the right to survive SOMEWHERE .

I grew up with "the world doesn't owe you anything" and it's not meant to be fair.

WHY NOT?? I BELIEVE if someone is ABLE to be fair, and isn't, then THEY are the ones with the problem.if you FORCE US to live in society then I say "YES,YOU DO OWE ME, YOU OWE ME A JOB, OR A WAY TO support myself or ALLOW me to live off the land away from your society.

As long as I hurt nobody but myself ,or encroach on anyone else's life. Why are we denied even that ??

I wish to thank every human fighting for what they believe is good and fighting the bad in this world.....ALL OF YOU ,FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART...THANK YOU FOR HAVING SUCH BEAUTIFUL GRACE OF SPIRIT...I APPLAUD YOU ALL ...

A Must Watch Documentary on the Syrian War!

[18Buddha · 8/10 · 12 April 2023]

This might not be thee best documentary I ever seen but its definitely one of a handful that ranks at the top.

What makes this stand out from many other documentaries is their dedication to document whats happening in the warzones of Syria-Libya and it was produced very strategically in how they presented this whole thing.

They try to make it more heartfelt & make viewers feel more invested into this film by showing us who these Human Rights Watch Journalist investigators are, alittle about them before the dangerous journey and then alittle during the actual journey to enter the countries secretly.

For me its definitely the small moments they show here and there of the reporters making small talks between each other and getting deep on personal levels sometimes that makes u care about what they are saying because then you have a better understanding of them.

A good combo of old tv news footage clips mixed with real stories told by survivors, live footage on the ground recorded by these investigators, also footage of behind the scenes work they do as well as showing their attempts & process to bring accountability onto the world stage for all to see.

The video quality is impressive, the camera angles perfect, the stability of the camera crews also impressive since you gotta remember these people had to carry 1 backpack of stuff only so that its light enough to run and sneak into these warzones so you can imagine they didnt have the ability to bring all of their filming equipments and yet this documentary was top notch in every aspect .