OVID.tv Presents ZONE OF SILENCE Review — Censorship the Executioner

OVID.tv brings together the minds of those who know censorship first hand

In only 40 minutes, these men who have been personally and professionally affected by censorship bring forward, and verbally dismantle, the way censorship is woven into our society. Most effectively, they note that “undoubtedly, censorship is an instrument of power, an instrument of defense.”

Concepts familiar to us in socio-politically progressive America—such as liberty and artistic freedom—are contrasted to the reality of Cuban censorship, especially as it ran rampant in the ‘60s and ‘70s among artists from various backgrounds.

An alternative kind of censorship, one this writer had not necessarily considered in exact terms, is self-censorship. When we consider how others may react, consider our government's eyes on our work, and worry about affecting those around us—and shift our work to better suit those people and those fears—we are effectively self-censoring. Something this documentary states will leave said work “mutilated.”

The narrators’ perspectives are far from haughty. Their discussion is more than about artists, it is to artists. As musician Frank Delgado said, “I am not a diplomat, I am a troubadour.” 

The entirety of the documentary is spoken in Spanish, which should not deter viewers of other tongues. The commentary powerfully expresses that the censorship that has existed before us, and will continue on years from now—censorship we are often blind to—transcends language; an all-important message for both creators and consumers.

The 2007 documentary leaves something to be desired, in this reviewer’s opinion, on the audio and visual front. Quick cuts from scene to scene, muffled audio, and uneasy camera work may throw you off from time to time, but this strikes as a minor factor compared to the information packed in the film.

About the Author:

Margaret Smith is a writer, editor, and critic achieving her B.A. from Columbia College Chicago. Having migrated from small-town Illinois, she now dwells in Chicago with a curious eye for art and a penchant for commentary. When not putting pen to paper, you might catch her about the city sipping coffee and filling in crossword puzzles.