The Film
"Let's face it, the solution to our problems lies in two things: the economic issue and democracy, freedom of speech. Anyone who can express himself can be part of the system…. If people are oppressed and can't speak their minds, they tend to turn to violence to express their ideas." —Ahmad Thaher Fayyad
Zarqa, Jordan’s second largest city, is a rundown, industrial metropolis and birthplace of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the notorious mastermind of al-Qaeda's terror operations in Iraq who was killed by American forces in 2005.
RECYCLE reveals the distinct yet intertwined stories of three native sons of Zarqa: al-Zarqawi the dead terrorist leader; Abu Ammar, an ex-mujahadi fighter who now supports his family of 11 by collecting cardboard; and filmmaker Mahmoud al Massad, who, from behind the camera’s lens, coolly unravels the knotted threads of poverty, humiliation and strict religious doctrine that have made the city a continuing source for jihadist recruits.
Many of Ammar’s neighbors are related to or knew al-Zarqawi. As filmmaker, al Massad rides along with Ammar through the streets and alleyways of Zarqa in his broken-down VW truck. Holding up traffic as his young sons leap out to gather cardboard, Ammar calls out greetings to al-Zarqawi’s cousins and points to landmarks associated with the dead jihadist leader.
The camera follows Ammar throughout his day, charting the life of this deeply religious yet moderate Islamic man as he tries to survive and support his eight children and two wives in one of Zarqa’s poorest neighborhoods. In the meantime, his attempts to build a normal life in the impoverished town are thwarted at every turn. He cannot afford his rent; a scheme to sell used vehicles in Iraq fails when he is almost killed by extremists and American soldiers, and the book he is writing—a moderate interpretation of jihad—goes unfinished. Even when he is promised free camel’s milk for his ill mother, the camel’s owner sells it to someone else while Ammar waits patiently for his turn, which never comes.
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The story is punctuated by a Greek chorus of Ammar’s friends, who, over endless cups of tea and a great deal of self-deprecating laughter, offer insights on al-Zarqawi and commentary on the current situation in the Middle East. Their comfort level with filmmaker al Massad makes for a candid and perceptive exchange that belies the dramatic headlines about Islam and sheds light on everyday Muslims’ stance on the war on terror.
Inscrutable, undaunted and ever-devout, Ammar labors alone at night in an abandoned storefront transcribing his personal interpretations of scripture from slips of paper stuffed in garbage bags onto an old desktop computer. But, when the war on terror strikes close to home, he is swept up and forced to deal with the reality that his life is falling apart. His surprising decision to try something completely different suggests that, when push comes to shove, desperate acts can emerge from the most ordinary of circumstances.
Update
Filmmaker Mahmoud al Massad provided updates in January 2009 on what the people in the film have been doing since filming ended:
Abu Ammar came back to Jordan after six months in Venezuela. Ammar, the first son of Abu Ammar, still works with his dad picking up cardboard. He is frequently pulled over by the police because he looks too young to have a driver’s license.
Ali al Azzam, the second son, is the only one focused on his studies. He is getting good grades and helps his father collect cardboard at night.
Izadein al Azzam, the third son, is no longer in school because he had too many absences due to helping his father.
Abu Bakr, the youngest, is still his father’s favorite son. He started school for the first time in 2008.
Ahmad Thaher Fayyad, Ammar’s friend featured in the film, studied engineering and is between jobs. He lived in Saudi Arabia for a time and is now back in Jordan.
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