Inner Circle in HBO Mini-series House of Saddam
Hussein Seen through Eyes of People Closest to Dictator on Cable TV
Dec 2, 2008
House of Saddam is a four part mini-series that will premiere on HBO on December 7, 2008. The life of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein (Al Tkrit) is explored, beginning when he was at the height of his political power. The HBO movie aims to tell the story of the family man and his relationships with family members, using family movies and records.
House of Saddam attempts to provide a portrait of the family life of a man reviled by the world. According to the HBO website, some of the films were used as resources were originally made for purposes of propaganda, but others were authentic family films.
Hussein was born to a peasant family in 1937 and was sent to live with his uncle, Khairallah Talfah, the father of Saddam’s future wife.
People outside of Hussein’s Inner Circle know little about the man behind the persona of the violent dictator. Hussein was married at least twice, to Sajida Khairalla Tuffah (Christine Stephen –Daly) and Samira Shabander (Shohreh Aghdashloo)
Saddam and his first wife had five children: three daughter and two sons. The world was shocked when Hussein had the husbands of two of his daughters executed for desertion in 1996. The execution was carried out by Ali Hassan Al Majid (Amr Waked). Both of his sons were killed in 2003.
Saddam Hussein was captured by U.S. Troops in 2003 and stood trial for crimes against humanity and other offenses. The Iraqi Special Tribunal charged the dictator with crimes against the resident of Dujail in 1982, following a failed assassination attempt. Charges against Hussein included the murder of 148 people, torture of women and children and illegal arrest of 399 people. Saddam was found guilty of crimes against humanity in 2006 and was sentenced to death by hanging. His execution was carried out on December 30, 2006, at the age of 69.
House of Saddam by HBO Films is a four part miniseries that will air beginning on December 7. The film offers a fresh perspective on the dictator, his relationships and life behind closed doors. Events are retold from inside the regime.
Men in the Inner Circle
- Saddam Hussein Al Tikrit (Igal Naor)
- Uday Saddam Hussein Al Tikriti (Philip Arditti), Saddam's eldest son
- Qusay Saddam Hussein Al Tikriti (Mounir Margoum) Saddam's younger son
- Barzan Ibrahim Hussein Al Tikriti (Said Taghmaoui)
- Hussein Kamel al Majid (Amr Waked) Saddam's son in law, husband of Rana
- Tariq Aziz (Makram J. Khoury)
- Samira Shabander (Shohreh Aghdashloo) Saddam's mistress and second wife
- Sajida Khairalla Tuffah (Christine Stephen-Daly) Saddam's first wife
- Hussein Kamel Al Majid, Saddam's son-in-law, married to Raghad. Hussein
- Adnan Khairallah Tulfah was Saddam's cousin and brother-in-law
- Ali Hassan Al Majid aka Chemical Ali
- Hala Saddam Hussein Al Tikriti .Saddam's youngest and favorite daughter
- Rana Saddam Hussein Al Tikriti was Saddam's middle daughter
- Raghad Saddam Hussein Al Tikriti was Saddam's eldest daughter
HBO Films Presents In association with BBC HOUSE OF SADDAM
- Music by Samuel Sim
- Editors Philip Kloss and Crispin Green
- Production Designer Maurice Cain
- Director of Photography Florian Hoffmeister
- Executive Producers Hilary Salmon, Alex Holmes
- Written by Alex Holmes and Stephen Butchard
- Produced by Steve Lightfoot
- Parts I and II Directed by Alex Holmes
- Parts III and IV Directed by Jim O'Hanlon
House of Saddam is a four part series will air on HBO. Parts one and two air on December 7 at 9 pm Eastern. Parts three and four air on December 14 at 9 pm Eastern.
Resources
House of Saddam HBO Website
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