Spurlock: from super size to terrorise

Last Modified: 17 Apr 2008
Source: ITN

Having super-sized himself a few years ago, Morgan Spurlock is back with his new documentary, Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?

Spurlock said his movie was inspired by the impending birth of his first child, as he wanted to create a safer world by finding the mastermind behind the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US.

Spurlock said: "I live in New York City and like most New Yorkers we want to know the answer to that question.

"You know, why had we not found Osama bin Laden and where is he? So in 2005 Bush had just been re-elected and Osama had just released a new tape, it was on every news channel, and the newscasters were like 'why haven't we caught him, why has he not been brought to justice, where in the world is Osama bin Laden?'

"And I said that's a great question, I want to know that too, so that was a jumping-off point for the movie."

His search for bin Laden takes him from New York City to countries like Egypt, Morocco, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Along the way he meets men on the street, clerics, women in burkas and journalists.

However, his serious subject matter takes on a lighter side.

Spurlock said: "We take this issue of terrorism, Osama bin Laden, the war on terror and we make it something that's a little palatable, a little easier to understand, a little more engaging.

"Some people would say: 'You can't really find humour in this, why is this funny?' And Lily Tomlin, a great comedian and actress, said years ago: 'We have to find humour in everything because when you find humour you find humanity.' And in this movie there is a tremendous amount of humanity."

Where in the World is Osama bin Laden? opens in the US on April 18.

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