Dealing and Wheeling in Small Arms

Dealing and Wheeling in Small Arms is a 2007 Dutch documentary film which takes a hard-hitting look into the world of arms trade and its repercussions on society. It features notable British actress Vanessa Redgrave and is directed by Sander Francken.

The documentary focuses on the global issues surrounding the illegal and legal small arms trade— a world often unseen by the general public. The film meticulously uncovers the complicated, interwoven network involving large corporations, governments, and individual profiteers who partake in the robust and hazardous global arms business. Its primary weapon of choice? Small arms such as rifles, handguns, and light weapons.

Redgrave, with her seasoned and sophisticated narrative style, takes the viewers on a journey deep into this dark world. The viewers get to experience chilling firsthand accounts from several individuals— including arms dealers who revel in their dangerous line of work, government figures who are complicit in nation-to-nation arms deals, and victims caught in the crossfire of the deadly weapons that populate their countries.

Using a blend of staged sequences, archive footage, and interviews, Dealing and Wheeling in Small Arms paints a detailed picture of a problem that, according to the United Nations, results in the death of about a thousand individuals every single day.

The film commences by providing an overview of the plight of small arms worldwide, using compelling statistics and infographics to grab viewer's attention. It subsequently delves into the depths of the issue, focusing particularly on countries riddled with war and conflicts, where small arms are rampant such as Somalia or Colombia. Amidst the backdrop of violence and bloodshed, the weapons become characters themselves, contributing to the chaos and disorder that plague these societies.

Simultaneously, the documentary also calls out the silence and secrecy maintained by leading nations like the United States, Russia, and China who are among the top exporters of small arms. Government officials and company executives evade questions and cover their trails in highly controversial and often illegal transactions. By shedding light on the shady dealings of these nations and corporations, the film encourages its viewers to question the morality and legality of the arms trade.

While the feature mainly focuses on the collectors, dealers, and middlemen who profit from this lethal business, it also provides a human face to the other side of the coin. Through heart-wrenching interviews and testimonies, the documentary explores the devastating consequences of the unregulated arms trade on innocent lives. It highlights the plight of individuals who were caught up in a war they did not ask for and who bear the brunt of the ubiquity of these weapons.

What sets Dealing and Wheeling in Small Arms apart, however, is its unique narrative structure. Francken shrewdly integrates dramatizations with real-life testimonies, thereby maintaining a critical, engaging perspective throughout the film. These dramatizations, while sometimes intense, serve to shed light on the harrowing situations that often result from the trading of dangerous arms.

What the documentary aims to do, ultimately, is to initiate a dialogue about the controversial and complex issues surrounding the billion-dollar arms industry, its loosely regulated global trade, and the resulting violence. Through the voice of Vanessa Redgrave, it exposes the role of the shadowy arms industry in escalating global turmoil and prompts viewers to reflect on the cycle of violence that small arms perpetuate.

Overall, Dealing and Wheeling in Small Arms doesn't just expose the dark and gritty world of international arms trade, but it also puts forth a question of contemporary importance: in a world so destructively armed, is peace really attainable?

This 2007 film, with its spine-chilling revelations, moving interviews, and thoughtful analysis, is a must-watch for anyone who seeks to unmask the grim reality of global arms trafficking. The message of this documentary is unequivocal and pointed: the consequences of a thriving small arms trade are much graver than what it seems on the surface. And it's high time the world took notice.