Film: Hiding Saddam Hussein

Today, we'd scheduled our monthly meeting of ex-colleagues - except it didn't happen; James' cold made him cry off - he waited until today, to be sure - and Ivan's dog is in hospital, requiring him to be there. So, when Martin messaged today to say he was too busy as well - that was it. Mind you, Skype is playing silly buggers, and each "first message of the day" that he sends me fails to show until he resends it! I get a notification, but no message. Technology, huh? Heading in the direction of Victoria again, we had booked The Phoenix. Ivan managed an all-day booking, which he had to cancel online, as nobody was answering the phone.

Never mind - Plan B, as so often, was a film, and (joint) top of my list was a documentary called Hiding Saddam Hussein, showing at the Curzon Bloomsbury only. Its late afternoon showing time was perfect, and I booked, for convenience. Later in the day, I took myself off - and wow, it was a cold wait for the bus: very breezy. Anyway, I arrived early, took my seat - had my stuff on the seat beside me, but had to move it when someone came to sit there. In a chatty mood, she explained that she'd only just discovered this cinema - she spent the time exploring their listings, and I gave her a couple of recommendations, explaining that this cinema is really unique in its documentary listings! I always check this cinema specifically for the new week's films.

Well, I hope she comes back - this wasn't the best film to start off with, mind. I mean, it was fine - actors represent the main participants, both in reconstructions of the hiding of Saddam, and of his eventual capture, as well as an interview with the guy who looked after him for the duration. The interview forms the narration for the entire film. And we hear how he was a simple farmer, didn't understand politics, was afraid not to help this man who had always been portrayed as the saviour of the country - and, indeed, wanted to extend the hand of friendship to a visitor, as required by the rule of hospitality. Meantime, we get the reconstructions so we can see what was happening, and we see real-life, grainy footage of the eventual capture.

Yeah - exactly what it says on the tin. What happened, why, and how. We don't get many revelations - perhaps the greatest new piece of information is the information that the narrator, himself, was imprisoned in Abu Ghraib for seven months, until they decided he didn't know anything, and let him go. And while we get some damning photographs from there, of the torture inflicted on the prisoners - he doesn't have anything to say, apart from the blank statement that he was tortured. The filmmakers make no attempt to say anything about this practice, to contrast, perhaps, the treatment of prisoners there with the treatment of the Iraqis under Saddam.

No context, no analysis, no point, really. In fact, I found myself falling asleep at one point. The story is, in general, quite boring, until they figure out - doubtless under more torture - where he is, and the action gets going. Honestly, I fail to see where this is getting its high rating. Not impressed.

Afterwards, to GBK, where she told me I could sit anywhere, then asked me not to sit at their one four-seater table. :-) And I was deliciously fed. Didn't seem as cold when I came out of the cinema - or perhaps I was just acclimatised by then..

Tomorrow, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Lynn Faces, a comedy about women of a certain age starting a punk group, and playing at the New Diorama. And that's it for socialising for me for the week - the rest is on my own.

On Tuesday, I was thinking film - and the film at the top of my list looks really good; I'm Still Here is about a Brazilian woman whose husband disappeared during the military dictatorship. Based on a true story, this is receiving a lot of attention. Also showing widely - the closest to me is in the BFI. I booked it, because it had started to sell out - in fact, now it's completely sold out - and booked to eat at The Archduke afterwards. Interestingly, Movie Roadhouse London saw it today, and loved it.. if I hadn't had this booked, I'd have gone with them! And by the time I discovered I was free today, of course I'd already booked for Tuesday..

On Wednesday - whee, more storytelling! This one is Folk Horror Night, and takes place in Folklore Hoxton, tickets through Dice - run by the Crick Crack Club, performed by Laura Sampson and Daniel Morden. Also already sold out. I've booked for The Blues Kitchen Shoreditch beforehand.

On Thursday, I've booked - because it was also selling out - for Intercepted, an interesting-sounding documentary, showing at Curzon Bloomsbury only, as far as I know, about phone calls home from Russian soldiers in the Ukraine, and intercepted by Ukrainian security forces. And then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.