Kathryn Bigelow has defended the torture scenes that feature in her new movie Zero Dark Thirty.
The Oscar nominated movie has come under fire in the U.S. from within government but Bigelow says that the movie does not suggest that Osama Bin Laden was found through torture.
Writing in the Los Angeles Times the filmmaker said: "Experts disagree sharply on the facts and particulars of the intelligence hunt, and doubtlessly that debate will continue."
"As for what I personally believe, which has been the subject of inquiries, accusations and speculation, I think Osama bin Laden was found due to ingenious detective work.
"Torture was, however, as we all know, employed in the early years of the hunt. That doesn't mean it was the key to finding bin Laden. It means it is a part of the story we couldn't ignore."
"War, obviously, isn't pretty, and we were not interested in portraying this military action as free of moral consequences."
Zero Dark Thirty currently tops the U.S. box office and has been the toast of the awards circuit.
The movie will battle it out for Best Picture at the Oscars next month but Bigelow has been over looked for Best Director.
Zero Dark Thirty is released 25th January.
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