She has said it before . Now she 's saying it again . `` Zero Dark Thirty '' filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow has written at length in an essay published in the LA Times about the scenes of torture featured in the movie , insisting once more than `` depiction is not endorsement . '' The controversy has dogged the movie for weeks as politicians and pundits attacked the movie , which was based on screenwriter/producer Mark Boal 's interviews with intelligence and military sources , for showing CIA agents beating and torturing suspects who later give up information that leads to Osama bin Laden . In the essay , Bigelow declares herself to be a pacifist who abhors the so-called `` enhanced interrogation techniques '' the movie shows , but says she felt obliged to put on screen the gruesome details of what was done in the name of counter-terrorism . An excerpt : . `` First of all : I support every American 's 1st Amendment right to create works of art and speak their conscience without government interference or harassment . As a lifelong pacifist , I support all protests against the use of torture , and , quite simply , inhumane treatment of any kind . But I do wonder if some of the sentiments alternately expressed about the film might be more appropriately directed at those who instituted and ordered these U.S. policies , as opposed to a motion picture that brings the story to the screen . Those of us who work in the arts know that depiction is not endorsement . If it was , no artist would be able to paint inhumane practices , no author could write about them , and no filmmaker could delve into the thorny subjects of our time . '' This comes at a critical time for the movie , which just opened nationally last weekend , coming in at first place with $ 24 million at the box office . It 's also a strong contender for several Oscars , including best original screenplay for Boal , best actress for star Jessica Chastain , and best picture — although Bigelow was snubbed in the directing category . Her essay in the LA Times expresses things she has already stated several times . `` I 'm not sure I have anything new to add , but I can try to be concise and clear , '' she wrote . Can this help at the box office ? Does it need to if it 's already faring well ? Will this satisfy Academy voters who may be troubled by the criticism ? We 'll see as it plays out . Right now , the only certainty is that sometimes in an echo chamber , you have to repeat yourself . See the original article at EW.com .
` ` Zero Dark Thirty '' filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow writes about the scenes of torture in the film . Bigelow says that ` ` depiction is not endorsement '' The controversy has followed the film for weeks as politicians and media criticized the film .