Clash of Loyalties

Clash of Loyalties (1983)

المسألة الكبرى

During the British colonial period in Iraq, Sheikh Dhari and his tribe openly reject colonization and employ peaceful resistance against the British occupation. In response, the English forces resort to violence, targeting Sheikh Dhari's locations in their confrontation with Laghman. When he is captured, they accuse him of blocking the road, revealing the schemes orchestrated by Britain in Iraq.

Date of release
1983-01-02
TMDB
7.5 / 10 (2)
Runtime
2h 0m
Genres
Drama, War
Director
Mohamed Shukri Jameel

Casting

Interesting facts

Clash of Loyalties is a 1983 Iraqi film focusing on the formation of Iraq out of Mesopotamia in the aftermath of the First World War.

Production

The state-run General Organization for Cinema had gained some autonomy in 1964, but had largely focused on making documentaries. Starting in 1977, it focused on feature film production, turning to large-budget epics in the 1980s. Already in the 1970s, it was clear that even privately funded movies could be used for political tools, and this situation intensified with the rise of Saddam Hussein.

By 1983, the Iran-Iraq War had been going on for three years, and Saddam wanted a film to boost the people's morale. The 1920 revolution against the British seemed like a proper topic for such a film, since it had become revered by Iraqi nationalists as a "defining moment in emerging national identity", and had been invoked in Iraqi poetry, theater, and film.

Although Iraqi films were now serving nationalist purposes, they were, ironically, still largely co-produced. The film was a co-production between British and Iraqi producers. Two versions of the script - one in English and one in Arabic - were written. British technicians were used.

The seriousness of the situation struck many British actors when they arrived. The civilian planes had to fly through Iraqi airspace under the escort of military jets, and they had to land without lights to avoid a missile attack. They were taken to "one decent hotel", but even those rooms the actors found themselves in a "half-built accommodation infested with cockroaches".

While Jameel claimed that Oliver Reed was well behaved, co-stars remembered otherwise. Actor Marc Sinden recalled numerous stories that showcased the actor's infamous behavior. Upon arriving at the hotel in Baghdad for the first time, Sinden was greeted with Reed being hung by his ankle outside a window, with his own bodyguard shouting, "Do not say that again!" According to Sinden, "We never did find out what Olly said." While onset he would reme…

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