State of Fear

How can an open society balance demands for security with democracy? Based on the findings of the Peruvian Truth and Reconciliation Commission, State of Fear  follows events in Peru, yet serves as a cautionary tale for a nation like the United States. Filmmakers Pamela Yates, Peter Kinoy, and Paco de Onis masterfully blend personal testimony, history and archival footage to tell the story of escalating violence in the Andean nation and how the fear of terror undermined their democracy, making Peru a virtual dictatorship where official corruption replaced the rule of law. Terrorist attacks by Shining Path insurgents provoked a military occupation of the countryside. Military justice replaced civil authority, widespread abuses by the Peruvian Army went unpunished, and the terrorism continued to spread. Nearly 70,000 civilians eventually died at the hands of Shining Path and the Peruvian military.

“State of Fear is a timely lesson on the hazards of choosing security over democracy.”
New York Times

“State of Fear shows all too clearly how terror can contaminate a country...As if trapped in a suspense film, we are forced to follow this escalation of violence step by tragic step, slowly understanding how so many Peruvians were poisoned by this maelstrom of madness and cruelty.”
Ariel Dorfman, The Guardian

“A brilliant and moving film, which is both a portrait of Peru and a chronicle of terror and response - fanaticism, bravery, heroism, abject fear and the way everyone is affected by such events. It is what Orwell called the aim of great art…imaginative in craftsmanship and politically committed at its heart.”
Paul Theroux, Author

“This excellent program would be a valuable addition to all libraries…”
Library Journal

“A must-see film for educators and activists working in the field of international human rights and Latin American studies.”
Juan Mendez, President, International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) and UN Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide

“Brilliant…it’s the gold standard.”
Alexander Wilde, Chair, Board of Directors, Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)

“State of Fear is a masterpiece. Through vivid depictions of several horrific attacks in Peru’s mountains, as well as through revealing, poignant interviews with innocent victims, soldiers, and insurgents, the film shows the agony that Peru’s war inflicted. The film is narrated primarily by distinguished members of Peru’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, who emphasize that, if internal war is not to recur, we must understand its various causes and know its tragic effects. State of Fear is the most significant advance toward these ends in years.”
Cynthia McClintock, Professor of Political Science, George Washington University

“[A] remarkable documentary….it serves as a valuable contribution not only to the recent political history of Peru but its focus on the truth commission as a example of national attempts toward reconciliation.”
Teaching Sociology

“Suppose you declared a war and nobody won – or, to be more precise, everybody lost? This is the sobering rhetorical inquiry posed by State of Fear, a fiercely detailed, yet scrupulously balanced documentary.”
New York Newsday

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