"House of Saddam" (2008) TV mini-series

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Jim O'Hanlon

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

2008 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A mini-series that explores the inner workings of Saddam Hussein's family and his relationship with his closest advisers.

Plot Keywords:

Saddam Hussein | TV Mini-Series | Hanging | Iran | Iraq

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Yigal Naor	...	Saddam Hussein (4 episodes, 2008)
Shohreh Aghdashloo	...	Sajida Khairallah Talfah (4 episodes, 2008)
Philip Arditti	...	Uday Hussein (4 episodes, 2008)
Makram Khoury	...	Tariq Aziz (4 episodes, 2008)
Mounir Margoum	...	Qusay Hussein (4 episodes, 2008)
Agni Scott	...	Raghad Hussein (4 episodes, 2008)
Uri Gavriel	...	Ali Hassan al-Majid (3 episodes, 2008)
Amr Waked	...	Hussein Kamel al-Majid (3 episodes, 2008)
Christine Stephen-Daly	...	Samira Shahbandar (3 episodes, 2008)
Daniel Lundh	...	Saddam Kamel al-Majid (3 episodes, 2008)
Amber Rose Revah	...	Hala Hussein (3 episodes, 2008)
Shivani Ghai	...	Rana Hussein (3 episodes, 2008)
Saïd Amadis	...	Adnan Khairallah / ... (2 episodes, 2008)
Akbar Kurtha	...	Kamel Hanna (2 episodes, 2008)

(more)

Series Directed by
Alex Holmes		(2 episodes, 2008)
Jim O'Hanlon		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Stephen Butchard		(2 episodes, 2008)
Alex Holmes		(2 episodes, 2008)

Series Produced by
Alex Holmes	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Nick Jones	....	line producer (unknown episodes)
Steve Lightfoot	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Hilary Salmon	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Jane Tranter	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Andrew Wood	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Samuel Sim		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Florian Hoffmeister		(4 episodes, 2008)

Series Film Editing by
Crispin Green		(2 episodes, 2008)
Philip Kloss		(2 episodes, 2008)

Series Casting by
Yael Aviv		(unknown episodes)
Susan Bluestein		(unknown episodes)
Elaine Grainger		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Maurice Cain		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Paul Frost		(unknown episodes)
Karl Probert		(unknown episodes)
Nina Ross		(unknown episodes)
Kevin Woodhouse		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Dominic Smithers		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Alexandra Caulfield		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Jemma Carballo	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Samantha Denyer	....	makeup trainee (unknown episodes)
Marella Shearer	....	makeup designer (unknown episodes)
Lucy Sibbick	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Juliette Vankay	....	makeup supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Phil Brown	....	post-production supervisor (4 episodes, 2008)
Mark L. Mitchell	....	post production executive (4 episodes, 2008)
David Broder	....	unit production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Martin Curry	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 2008)
Dan Winch	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 2008)
Laura Coggan	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Gemma Nunn	....	third assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Paul Mitchell	....	props (2 episodes, 2008)
Absi Anis	....	vehicle art coordinator (unknown episodes)
Karim Benchiek	....	props labour (unknown episodes)
Jallel Bizid	....	lead man (unknown episodes)
Aymen Chambi	....	props labour (unknown episodes)
Noel Cowell	....	property master (unknown episodes)
Hazem Djelli	....	props (unknown episodes)
Fatma Madani	....	props buyer (unknown episodes)
Bassem Narzouk	....	stand-by props (unknown episodes)
Mourad Negri	....	stand-by props (unknown episodes)
Ahlem Omar	....	translator (unknown episodes)
Kammel Trad	....	props labour (unknown episodes)
Graham Ward	....	stand-by art director (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Justine Angus	....	supervising sound editor (4 episodes, 2008)
Adam Davidson	....	adr recordist (4 episodes, 2008)
Nick Foley	....	adr mixer (4 episodes, 2008)
George Hapig	....	foley artist (4 episodes, 2008)
Max Hoskins	....	supervising sound editor (4 episodes, 2008)
Hugo Jeffreys	....	adr recordist (4 episodes, 2008)
Mathias Krebs	....	foley recordist (4 episodes, 2008)
Aad Wirtz	....	sound re-recording mixer (2 episodes, 2008)
Francis Ward Lindsay	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes, 2008)
Fraser Barber	....	production sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Tom Deane	....	adr mixer (unknown episodes)
James Harris	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Hallam Smallpeice	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Bernard Newton	....	special effects supervisor (unknown episodes)
Scott Peters	....	special effects technician (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Tom Aitken	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Spencer Murray	....	camera (4 episodes, 2008)
Ben Appleton	....	clapper loader (unknown episodes)
Marc Atherfold	....	focus puller (unknown episodes)
Habib Bensalem	....	best boy (unknown episodes)
Med Hedi Boulabbi	....	second generator operator (unknown episodes)
Phil Brookes	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)
Mondher Dhiab	....	generator operator (unknown episodes)
Jo Gibbs	....	second assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Sam Goldie	....	additional first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Lee Howarth	....	electrical rigger (unknown episodes)
Lotfi Kammoun	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Lamjed	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Brad Larner	....	first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Derek McCulloch	....	rigging gaffer (unknown episodes)
Mike McHugh	....	best boy (unknown episodes)
Saber Said	....	electrician (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Jason Kennedy	....	casting associate (unknown episodes)
Laura Windows	....	casting assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Suzanne Barnes	....	costume buyer (unknown episodes)
Anne T. Delaney	....	key costumer (unknown episodes)
Jennifer Harvey	....	costume supervisor (unknown episodes)
Ruth Moth	....	costume set supervisor (unknown episodes)
Gary Page	....	costumer (unknown episodes)
Georgiana Sayer	....	costume set supervisor (unknown episodes)
Geoffrey Slack	....	chief costumer (unknown episodes)
Lupt Utama	....	assistant costume designer (unknown episodes)
Johanna Wrigley	....	key costumer (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Adam Harvey	....	assistant editor (4 episodes, 2008)
Bejhan Kalantar	....	post-production coordinator (4 episodes, 2008)
Dominic Thomson	....	digital editor (unknown episodes, 2008)
Matthew Benns	....	digital intermediate data manager (unknown episodes)
Paul Ensby	....	colorist (unknown episodes)
Todd Kleparski	....	digital intermediate producer (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Alastair King	....	conductor (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Sally El Hosaini	....	script editor / specialist researcher (4 episodes, 2008)
Paul B. Gibbs	....	production accountant (4 episodes, 2008)
Sarah Hulls	....	assistant accountant (4 episodes, 2008)
Davina Rodrigues	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 2008)
Danielle Fox	....	london office (unknown episodes)
Richard George	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Helene Oosthuizen	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Caroline Skinner	....	script editor (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• HBO Films

Distributors

• BBC Worldwide (2007) (non-USA) (TV)
• HBO Hungary (2009) (Hungary) (TV)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (2008) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies
• Lee Lighting  lighting
• Mayflower Studios  adr recording studio
• Sindbad Productions  production services
• Wildfire Studios  adr recording facility
• Wow & Flutter  screening facilities

Also Known As:

"Between Two Rivers" (UK) (working title)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Tunisia

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Great Casting!

If viewers are expecting a factual summary of Saddam Hussein's life, they will be disappointed. I'm sure there are better documentaries on the subject. But for pure casting pleasure, I would heartily recommend HoS. Director Jim O'Hanlon has assembled a truly international cast, including celebrated Iranian actress Shohreh Aghdashloo (so marvelous in "House of Sand & Fog"), Indian actress Shivani Ghai, and Palestinian actor Makram Khoury (great as Tariq Aziz).

Most impressive is celebrated actor Yigal Naor as Saddam. He exudes the perfect combination of ruthlessness and charm that propelled the tyrant into power. That Hussein is portrayed by a Jew-- and Israeli-born Jew-- is probably sending the old goat into cartwheels. Pure poetic justice!