Shooting a fictional movie based on a real war while that war still rages is a risky proposition. But director Philip Haas (THE MUSIC OF CHANCE) has taken the plunge with THE SITUATION, a film set in Iraq as seismic changes grip the country. Connie Nielsen (ONE HOUR PHOTO) stars as Anna, an American journalist who investigates the possible drowning of an Iraqi boy by American soldiers, only to get caught up in the assassination of an Iraqi acquaintance as she travels between the cities of Baghdad and Samarra. In Baghdad Anna hooks up with her casual and disillusioned intelligence officer-boyfriend Dan (Damian Lewis), whose cynicism marks him out from his colleagues. But Anna also finds herself romantically drawn to Iraqi photographer Zaid (Mido Hamada), and when Anna is kidnapped after looking into the death of her friend, Dan and Zaid meet under difficult circumstances, setting out in a desperate bid to free her.
Shot in Morocco, THE SITUATION deftly highlights the complexities triggered by the American presence in Iraq. The screen is filled with fine performances from actors who are given the problematic task of bringing to life morally reprehensible characters from both sides of the battle. Lewis and Nielsen both give excellent performances as two people who face duplicity and deceit at every turn, and Haas neatly strings a number of storylines together as the movie slowly weaves its spell. Those looking for answers and solutions to the conflict won't find them here, making THE SITUATION a perfect representation of a war that, as the film is released, still appears to be a long way from resolution.
