The Edition: SAS betrayal, the battle for Odesa & in defence of film flops
Nov 28, 2024
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Guests Paul Wood, a Spectator writer who delves into SAS soldiers' legal struggles, and Peter Pomerantsev, a journalist discussing the historical significance of Odesa, explore urgent issues. Wood reveals how legal challenges are impacting SAS morale and recruitment. Pomerantsev discusses Odesa's vital role amidst the Russian invasion. Film critics Chris Tookey and Tim Robey share insights on the disillusionment with modern cinema, lamenting the loss of the communal theater experience and the overwhelming dominance of superhero films, questioning the future of innovative storytelling.
SAS soldiers now regard legal threats stemming from the ECHR as a primary concern, undermining their morale and recruitment efforts.
Odessa's strategic importance as a key port city in Ukraine underlies its resilience amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia, exacerbating identity crises among its residents.
Deep dives
The SAS's New Legal Challenges
The podcast discusses how SAS soldiers now perceive their primary threat not as external enemies, but as legal repercussions stemming from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Many SAS members fear that actions taken during operations, which are legally sanctioned under military and international laws, may be challenged years later in court, leading to a detrimental effect on their morale and potential recruitment. Veterans express concern that this legal vulnerability could hinder the SAS’s effectiveness in crisis situations, casting doubt on the future operational readiness of one of the UK's elite military units. The conversation highlights the urgent need for government intervention to clarify legal protections for soldiers engaged in complex military operations.
The Historical Significance of Odessa
The importance of Odessa is underscored as a key port city for Ukraine, crucial for the global grain supply and strategically significant in the ongoing conflict with Russia. It plays a vital role in limiting potential food shortages worldwide, with Ukraine historically being referred to as the breadbasket of Europe. The discussion emphasizes how the Russian narrative seeks to exploit Odessa to gain control over essential resources, thereby attempting to exert political pressure on the West. The challenges Odessa faces, including attempts by Russia to capture it to cut Ukraine's access to the sea, are examined in the context of its resilience and the new strategies employed by Ukraine.
Cultural Identity and Historical Complexity
A significant theme explored is the tension between individual identities in Odessa and the historical perception of Russian greatness, which many locals struggle to reconcile with Ukraine’s current political situation. The podcast notes that some residents have been raised with the notion of Odessa being an integral part of the Russian narrative, complicating their response to the ongoing conflict where Ukraine is under siege. This cultural schizophrenia is illustrated by stories of older generations grappling with their aspirations tied to a Russian identity, amidst the stark reality of war and its consequences. The psychological impact of this identity crisis is profound, as the traditional narratives of greatness are being challenged by contemporary Ukrainian nationalism spurred by the ongoing conflict.
The Evolution of Cinematic Experiences
The discussion shifts to the evolving nature of cinema and audience engagement, highlighting a growing disconnection from traditional moviegoing experiences. The podcast reflects on how pandemic-induced fears and the convenience of streaming have diminished the allure of cinemas, leading to adjusted audience expectations. Critics express nostalgia for communal viewing experiences that foster a connection with fellow moviegoers, arguing that the rise of superhero films has overshadowed mid-range cinema, which traditionally offers richer narratives. Additionally, the idea of risk-taking in film production is examined, suggesting that today's studios shy away from producing ambitious films, opting instead for safer bets that often result in mediocrity.
The enemy that most concerns Britain’s elite military unit isn’t the IRA, the Taliban or Isis, but a phalanx of lawyers armed with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), writes Paul Wood in The Spectator. Many SAS soldiers now believe that if they kill a terrorist during an operation, they’ll spend decades being hounded through the courts. Paul speaks to former SAS soldiers who say that stories of men being ‘dragged back to be screamed at in interview rooms’ are ‘flying around the canteens now’. Soldiers feel like ‘the good guys have become the bad guys – and the bad guys are now the good guys’. This is hurting morale and may eventually hit recruitment. Paul joins the podcast to discuss further, alongside Colonel Richard Williams, a former SAS commanding officer in Iraq and Afghanistan. (01:36)
Then: how much more punishment can Ukrainian city Odesa take?
The Black Sea port of Odesa occupies a unique role in Ukrainian – and Soviet – history. Added significance has been thrust on it by the Russian invasion: both symbolically, as well as practically, given how central it is to grain exports. But while war weariness sets in for Ukrainians – and their allies – the battle for Odesa is ever more crucial; further deadly aerial attacks took place only days ago. In the magazine this week, journalist Peter Pomerantsev reviews a new book looking at the port city by Julian Evans. Undefeatable: Odesa in Love and War is part-history book, part-memoir exploring many of the human stories that make up the city. How has the conflict changed the people of Odesa? And for Ukrainians who grew up consuming Russian-speaking media and culture, did the war challenge their identity? Peter joins the podcast alongside the author of the Spectator’s Ukraine newsletter, Svitlana Morenets. (18:24)
And finally: do we secretly love a good film flop?
‘I’ve fallen out of love with cinemas,’ declares long-standing (or should that be long-suffering?) film critic Chris Tookey in the magazine this week. He argues the experience isn’t as good, and Hollywood is partly to blame. Perhaps films are getting worse? Some people love a good film flop though – the big-budget blockbuster disasters. Fellow film critic Tim Robey is one such person, and he explores his love of Hollywood flops in his new book Box Office Poison, out now. But how has the experience of cinema changed? And what’s the worst film they’ve ever seen? Tim and Chris join the podcast. (32:58)
Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.
Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Patrick Gibbons.
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