The Devil’s Double
The Devil's Double
Format: Cinema
Date: 10 August 2011
Venues: UK wide
Distributor: Icon
Director: Lee Tamahori
Writers: Michael Thomas, Latif Yahia
Based on the novel by: Latif Yahia
Cast: Dominic Cooper, Ludivine Sagnier, Raad Rawi
Belgium 2011
108 mins
Lee Tamahori’s The Devil’s Double pulls us headlong into the hubris, immorality, waywardness and brutality that dominated the life of Uday Hussein, the elder son of Saddam, in his heyday before and after the 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Tamahori focuses on Uday’s efforts to recruit a body double to protect him at public appearances, following his father’s example. Uday finds the perfect match in Latif, an army lieutenant and former school mate, who has no choice but to consort with the devil. Latif has a hard time watching Uday’s brutal and humiliating actions, and matters become complicated when he gets off with one of his boss’s favourite lovers. Based on a book by the real Latif Yahia, the film paints an uncompromising picture of Uday, and recounts events that may or may not have happened. Dominic Cooper plays both Uday and Latif, a double role that is used as much for cheap comic effects as to create an air of captivating, effortless cool. This is backed up by a punchy soundtrack and top-notch production design, which cover up the flaws in the narrative and characters. For what it’s worth, The Devil’s Double shows that a different view of the Iraq war is possible, from a different end of the aesthetic spectrum.
Pamela Jahn
