Hiding Saddam Hussein
Schedule
Overview
A simple Iraqi farmer who gets an unexpected guest knocking on his door. A guest who must be hidden from family, friends and 150,000 American soldiers. The guest is President Saddam Hussein.
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Review
Operation Red Dawn, conducted by the American army, ended on December 13th, 2003, when Saddam Hussein was pulled from a hole in the earth near a farm in Ad Dawr in the south of Tigris in Iraq. 20 years later, an ordinary farmer named Alaa Namiq tells unbelievable story of how he dug that hole and hid Hussein in his flower garden for 8 months. From the day Hussein arrived at his house, Namiq had to fulfil the role of barber, cook, doctor and even bodyguard. After Hussein was captured, Namiq was also imprisoned in the infamous Abu Ghraib prison by the American army for at least 7 months for aiding Hussein. Regarding Hussein, Namiq explains that he only followed Arabic custom and culture as well as Islamic law that dictates “one should help those in need”, and reminisced “At that moment, the thought didn't cross my mind, that 150,000 soldiers were looking for him”. Though Saddam Hussein was a dictator to some, he had been a friend to Namiq during the 235 days they spent together. (CHUN Jinsu)
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Credit
- DirectorHalkawt MUSTAFA
- ProducerJanne HJELTNES, Anders HEREID, Halkawt MUSTAFA
- ScreenplayHalkawt MUSTAFA
- CinematographyKjell VASSDAL, Anders HEREID
- GafferAli Raza MURADI
- Production DesignTarq KHAYAT
- MusicTrond BJERKNES
- EditorHalkawt MUSTAFA
- SoundKristoffer ENDRESEN
- CastAlaa NAMUQ
Film Source
Hene Films ⎜halkawtm@gmail.com
Director
Halkawt MUSTAFA
Halkawt Mustafa is an established Norwegian-Kurdish film director, screenwriter and Producer born in Iraq. He directed Kurdish Sniper (2025), Hiding Saddam Hussein (2024), El clásico (2016), The Women ISIS Fears (2015), Red Heart (2011).
