Jean-Daniel Lafond’s Controversial Documentary AMERICAN FUGITIVE
by Andre Soares
"American Fugitive has drawn flak in certain quarters with some columnists arguing it’s an outrage that the Governor General’s husband would make a documentary that could be construed as a sympathetic portrait of a terrorist. That’s just nonsense, retorts [French-born filmmaker Jean-Daniel] Lafond.
"’It’s not sympathetic nor is it hostile,’ said Lafond. ‘It’s simply an attempt to understand this guy, not to judge him. You try to listen. I was never sympathetic to Hassan’s action and he knew that. I’ve always said it’s impossible to believe it’s right to kill someone no matter what the motive. You can’t kill someone just because they’re a symbol.’"
From Brendan Kelly’s article "Governor General’s husband crafts portrait of terrorist in American Fugitive," at Canada.com.
Lafond’ controversial documentary, American Fugitive: The Truth About Hassan, follows the trajectory of David Belfield, who shot and killed the former press attaché of the shah of Iran, Ali Akbar Tabatabai, in 1980. Belfield fled the U.S., and eventually settled in Tehran. He is now known as Hassan Abdulrahman.
By the way, Lafond is married to Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean, Queen Elizabeth II’s official representative in Canada.
Photo: © InformAction Films inc.
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