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The Sellout Issue
film reviews: the saddam hussein execution
david litt
If there’s one thing today’s Iraq brings to mind, it’s quality independent film. Armed only with a digital video camera, a microphone, and lots of weapons, Iraqi directors have shocked the world by creating films of stunning beauty and violence, or at least just violence. Since the late Abu Musab al-Zarqawi swept the Terrorys, Al-Jazeera’s annual awards show, with his Beheadings series in 2004, expectations have been high for Iraqi cinema. Saddam Hussein Hanged, the latest short film from director Anonymous Masked Man, is the latest entry onto the scene, and it’s gotten more than it’s fair share of buzz. Well I’ve finally seen, and let me tell you: it doesn’t live up to the hype.
Shot entirely on location at a tiny room outside Baghdad, Hussein certainly belongs in the “New Minimalism” school of Iraqi execution-videos. Anonymous Masked Man shot the entire film in a single take, using only a cell phone camera, a bold choice that was clearly meant to highlight the austerity of man’s final moments. Instead, it comes off as pretentious and overdone, particularly during the hanging itself, which practically cries out for a scene from Saddam’s point of view. Anonymous Masked Man, is, to the best of our knowledge, still a young director, and he has yet to learn that there is such a thing as over-directing a picture.
Sadly, that is not Hussein’s only flaw. The camerawork was clearly influenced by The Blair Witch Project, but the shaky, rapidly moving focus that worked so well for a horror movie doesn’t seem right for an execution flick, even a low-budget one. In addition, the film desperately needs a soundtrack – as the camera pans across Saddam’s lifeless body, a sentimental Phil Collins ballad would have given the moment the pathos it so desperately needed.
Despite the film’s many flaws, there are a few bright spots, most notably some standout performances. The actor playing masked guard number three steals the show with his performance in the “taunting” sequence. “You have destroyed us,” says his character, with tears probably welling in his eyes if you could see them. “You have killed us. You have made us live in destitution.” It’s a wonderful moment, one that brilliantly encapsulates the balance between power and hurt that characterizes all too many male relationships. Behind the mask, both metaphorical and physical, we see a soldier in the Mahdi Army who has to kill, but who wants to be loved. It’s a fantastic piece of acting, and would have been a shoo-in for Best Supporting Actor at this year’s Oscars except that if anyone ever reveals who the actor is, he will be killed.
Saddam Hussein, playing dictator Saddam Hussein, also turns in a powerful performance. Whether he’s telling guards to go to hell, making megalomaniacal proclamations about his importance to Iraq, or proclaiming his faith in Allah, Saddam portrays Saddam as a wonderful combination of narcissistic evil and inner strength, a complex character who is like a modern-day Citizen Kane, but with more genocide. One downside, however, is a lack of commitment during the part where he’s dead, which is boring and uninspired. He would do well to have taken a cue from Barzan Ibrahim, whose own hanging video became the surprise hit of the season when his head fell off.
In the end, Anonymous Masked Man’s message is clear: we are all Saddam Hussein, particularly those of us who have killed tens of thousands of Kurds. It’s a rich topic, and it’s a shame that some poor directorial choices obscure such a powerful message of death, death, and even more death. There’s good news for fans of Anonymous Masked Man, however: he’s already signed on to a new project, US Special Forces Gunning Down Osama Bin Laden, and with a terrific cast and a much bigger budget, he should have a more-than-adequate chance to redeem himself. The bad news: God only knows when that one’s going to be released.
This page was last updated October 23 2010!
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