The Pirate Tapes | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Directed by | Andrew Moniz Rock Baijnauth |
Production companies | Palmira PDC, Telestro, Filmic Entertainment |
Distributed by | HBO Documentary Films (US) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 72 minutes |
Countries | Canada Somalia |
Language | English |
The Pirate Tapes is a documentary filmed by Somali-Canadian Mohamed Ashareh in Somalia and edited and produced by Palmira PDC in Canada.[1] The film follows Ashareh, as he infiltrates a Somali pirate operation, giving a first person view of how they recruit and organize. The documentary premiered at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in 2011.[2] It was picked up for distribution by HBO Documentary Films.[3]
Ashareh lives undercover with pirates in Somalia for months during 2009, filming their activities with a small camera hanging around his neck.[2][4] Some of the filming was done by a second cameraman. Ashareh was frequently in danger, and at one point they were both arrested and spent time in a Somali jail.[5]
The film has been heavily criticized for shortcomings attributed to Ashereh's lack of journalistic and filming experience.[4][6] There has also been a dispute between Ashareh and Palmira PDC over the rights to the footage filmed by Ashereh.[1] Andrew Moniz of Palmira PDC maintains the contracts "clearly" state Palmira would own the footage.[7]