Hiding Saddam Hussein
Hiding Saddam Hussein (2023), directed by Kurdish filmmaker Halkawt Mustafa, is a documentary revealing the final days of Saddam Hussein through the lens of Alaa Namiq, the Iraqi peasant who concealed him for 235 days from 150,000 American soldiers during the Iraq war. While the film enthralls with its captivating narrative and innovative structure, it ultimately squanders its potential by failing to critically engage with the complexities of its subject.
2023
Documentary
Iraq
Director: Halkawt Mustafa
Hiding Saddam Hussein (2023), directed by Kurdish filmmaker Halkawt Mustafa, is a documentary revealing the final days of Saddam Hussein through the lens of Alaa Namiq, the Iraqi peasant who concealed him for 235 days from 150,000 American soldiers during the Iraq war. While the film enthralls with its captivating narrative and innovative structure, it ultimately squanders its potential by failing to critically engage with the complexities of its subject.
Mustafa’s cinematic language is particularly noteworthy, employing a smart and thrilling approach to storytelling.Mustafa weaves together three distinct threads: Alaa’s long interview, archival footage, and cleverly constructed dramatizations.The dramatized sequences, in particular, are a highlight, resembling visual fragments of Alaa’s memories. These fragmented glimpses into the past, shrouded in low-key lighting and enigmatic camera angles, evoke a sense of poetic memory, drawing the viewer into the heart of Alaa’s experience.
The powerful narration by Alaa, coupled with these cinematic elements, successfully immerses the audience in the tension and intrigue of the story. The filmmaker’s ability to maintain suspense, even when the ultimate outcome is known, speaks to the documentary’s effective structure and Mustafa’s storytelling skills.
However, the documentary falls short in its exploration of the moral and political implications surrounding Saddam Hussein. The film’s conclusion, where Alaa describes Saddam as a friend, raises important questions about the ethical stance it adopts and the validity of the argument it tries to construct.
One must question whether 235 days spent with a man in his most vulnerable state, seeking refuge and protection, provide a sufficient basis for forming a definitive judgment about his character. The undeniable reality is that Saddam Hussein’s legacy is far more complex than Alaa’s personal experience can encompass. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, including Kurds and Shias, suffered under his regime. Thousands were subjected to torture and execution, leaving behind countless families shattered by his actions.
While Mustafa successfully humanizes the infamous dictator during his weakest moments, the film neglects to address the broader context of Saddam’s actions and the impact on countless lives. The question arises: is it justifiable to reduce a complex figure like Saddam Hussein to a mere “friend” based on a brief period of shared vulnerability?
Hiding Saddam Hussein had the potential to be an exceptional documentary. It possessed a unique story and a compelling narrative structure. However, the naivety and superficiality of the concluding statement undermine the depth that the film could have achieved and diminished it’s impact and credibility. Instead of offering a nuanced portrait, it leaves the audience with a skewed view of history and a troubling sense of naivety.