Asian Vision Competition
Hiding Saddam Hussein
إخفاء صدام حسين
Synopsis:
Over 20 years after footage of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein crawling out of a hole in the ground became iconic, the modest farmer who hid the deposed president beneath a flowerbed in his garden for eight months tells his fantastical tale. On camera, the farmer recounts assuming the roles of presidential hairdresser, physician, and bodyguard—and the unlikely friendship that emerged, even as he ignored a $25 million bounty. The story is richly illustrated with re-enacted scenes interspersed with news reports of the time.
Schedule
Nov 18, 2024 03:30 PM
Director
Halkawt Mustafa
Halkawt Mustafa (b. 1985) was born in Sulaymani, Kurdistan in northern Iraq. He moved to Norway with his family in 2000 and is a Norwegian citizen. His father’s political activism against Saddam and the old established Kurdish parties, necessitated their escape. In 2000, they arrived in Norway as refugees, eventually settling and becoming Norwegian citizens.He got his education at NISS (Nordic Institute of Stage and Studio), In 2011, he directed his first feature, the doomed love story Red Heart which went on to screen at many international festivals, and won several awards, and was part of ANA’s inaugural edition. In 2015, Mustafa directed the acclaimed TV documentary The Women the Islamic State Fears, and in 2016, he directed his second feature El Clasico, which also screened at ANA. It’s the story about two Kurdish brothers who go on a dangerous quest through Iraq to Spain to meet Christiano Ronaldo.
Credits
Director:
Halkawt Mustafa
Producers:
Janne Hjeltnes
Anders Hereid
Halkawt Mustafa
Cinematography:
Anders Hereid
Editing:
Halkawt Mustafa
Cast:
Yassin Hamad Amin
Saidulla Faizulla
Chnar Imad Ghanm
Screenwriters:
Halkawt Mustafa
Kjell Vassdal
Sound:
Kristoffer Endresen
93 min | Documentary | 2023 | Norway, Iraq | Arabic
Presented By
