The 2011 film, The Devil’s Double tells the story of the life of Latif Yahia.
His job was to be a body double of Saddam Hussein’s oldest son – Uday and expected to take part in many sadistic acts.
The notion of a body double is common for dictators, and Latif was forced to be Uday’s or he and his family would be killed.
Dominic Cooper (star of Marvel’s Agent Carter) played both characters, with the movie starting with Uday trying to recruit army lieutenant Latif Yahia. However, there’s a twist, Yahia has no choice, when Uday Hussein selects you, you belong to him.
The movie was written by Michael Thomas, with help from Latif Yahi himself, from the books he wrote about his experiences.
Uday Hussein, is what you would expect any dictator’s son to be like, arrogant, spoiled and used to getting his own way.
As much of Iraq lives just above the poverty line, Uday wears the finest clothes, owns many supercars, and lives the life of luxury.
Whatever Uday wants, he gets, whether women or possessions, with the only person he shows respect to in the film being his mother.
Yahia’s job was to chaperone Uday, and stand in for events that Uday did not want to go to. Most of his time was joining Uday at parties, drinking a lot of alcohol, and consuming a plethora of drugs.
The film also stars Ludivine Sagna, once Uday’s love interest, but someone Yahia became close with. Everyone lived under fear in the compound of Uday Huseein, including his officials as Uday was known for his angry outbursts and living like a tyrant.
The movie was mainly filmed in Malta and Jordan, as opposed to Iraq, and is packed with Arabic architecture, deserts and mansions.
During Saddam’s reign, many things were prohibited, but none of this affected Uday who would often drink and gamble with no repercussions whatsoever. Today, in the Middle East, certain countries are still very restrictive on things like alcohol and gambling, which are mainly prohibited in the Gulf States.
One country that is less strict is Lebanon, a place where Uday and Yahia would often go, for parties and to play table games such as baccarat and blackjack. Nevertheless, even though playing casino games is prohibited today, Arab players are able to access safe sites online.
Middle Eastern players can access online casino reviews (استعراض كازينو على الإنترنت) to make an informed choice found on top comparison sites. In addition, players can even claim a welcome bonus, and get advice on VPNs and how to play legally.
Throughout the movie, Yahia is always in a bind, playing ball or his family suffers. The only solution was for all to flee Iraq, if Yahia was to live a normal life again. Nonetheless, this would take outstanding courage, as Uday Hussein was ruthless, and killed people on a whim.
In one scene Uday shot an official that worked for his father because he didn’t like his attitude, and at that point Yahia was terrified.
Overall, the movie keeps you on the edge of your seats, full of twists and turns wondering what evil thing Uday would do next which Yahia had to witness. Some of the scenes were difficult to watch. But the people behind the movie did a terrific job to show the cruelty that Uday inflicted upon others.
The movie is set in the late 1980s, early 1990s, just before Saddam Hussein tries to invade Kuwait. Uday’s opinion is that Kuwait is Iraqi land, given to the Kuwaitis by the British, and extremely angry.
Towards the end, Yahia has to stand in for Uday, located nearby Kuwait. The reason was because Uday was worried about the security, hence he has a body double.
The movie The Devil’s Double is an independent film that scored well with critics, mainly because it’s a well written story, and you are always left wondering what would happen next. It gives you a glimpse into the son of Saddma Huseein, and the life he would live at the height of Hussein’s power.
Verdict 7/10
* * * * *
Produced by Paul Breuls, Michael John Fedun,
Emjay Rechsteiner, Catherine Vandeleene
Screenplay by Michael Thomas
Based on The Devil’s Double by Latif Yahia
Directed by Lee Tamahori
Starring Dominic Cooper, Ludivine Sagna, Raad Rawi
