With a baby on the way, and a need to make the world safe for infant-kind, an unassuming guy from West Virginia takes on what no special ops team could do: he puts to use his complete lack of experience, knowledge, and expertise to find the most wanted man on earth.
Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden? is a documentary film, conceived by Adam Dell and co-written, produced, directed by and starring Morgan Spurlock, an American independent filmmaker. The title of the film is a play on the title of the television game show and computer game series, Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?, and other “Where in the World is” themes.
After some comical animations involving Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the film shows Spurlock visiting various countries associated with or affected by Bin Laden. The film contains short interviews with many people about Bin Laden and Islamic fundamentalism, and about the US and its war on terror. Supposedly Spurlock searches for Bin Laden, and he even asks people at random in the street where he is. The film is intercut with images of Spurlock’s wife in the late stages of her pregnancy. Much of Spurlock’s commentary is based on the concerns of a new father.
Spurlock visits Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. In Afghanistan, guarded by about 21 Afghan soldiers he visits Tora Bora. A local government official is shown who wants to change it into an amusement park. Spurlock is also shown on a US Army patrol as an embedded journalist.
Spurlock is shown hesitating to enter the area of Pakistan near the Afghan border where Bin Laden is at the time, which is closed to foreigners, and deciding not to go there, arguing that it is not worth the risk. He concludes that the people in the countries he visited are ordinary people just like himself and the audience.
Production notes provided by Warrior Poets.
Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?
Starring: Jeremy Chilnick, Morgan Spurlock
Directed by: Morgan Spurlock
Screenplay by: Morgan Spurlock
Release Date: April 18th, 2008
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some strong language.
Studio: Warrior Poets
Box Office Totals
Domestic: $384,955 (72.9%)
Foreign: $142,956 (27.1%)
Total: $527,911 (Worldwide)