CURVEBALL

Germany, 2020, 110 minutes.
Sebastian Blombert, Dar Salim, Virginia Kull.
Directed By Johannes Naber.

One wonders about a German film of the title Curveball. In fact, this was the code name given to the Iraqi whistleblower who gave information to the German government who passed it on to the US government which led to the false declarations that Iraqi and Saddam Hussain had weapons of mass destruction. And Iraq was invaded by Pres George Bush and his allies.

There are some criticism of this film that entreated its themes too lightly. In fact, there are a number of farcical situations in the film and some commentators used, actually, the word draw to describe the treatment. Some of this criticism came from German critics who did not quite approve of the tone and wanted much more serious considerations.

We are introduced to 2 chemical weapons experts in Afghanistan in the late 1990s. They have been close while on mission but he, Dr Wolf, returns to Germany, she, Leslie, returning to the United States. He continues with his scientific research, an illustration being made for the audience about. Leslie becomes part of the CIA.

There seems to be a breakthrough in information about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq with the defection of someone who worked in the plants, Rafid Alwan. He is interrogated by German authorities who call in Dr Wolf who is initially sceptical but comes to believe some of the evidence presented. One is very keen to get a German passport, get away from your arc and settle peaceably.

Audiences may be aware that he is the source of the information, which she later renamed on, that was used by American authorities to justify the invasion of Iraq, that Saddam Hussein did have weapons of mass destruction, using sketchy diagrams that R1 had offered, elaborating them with colour and better design which proved persuasive.

There are further complications with Dr Wolf who is sacrificed by the German authorities. R1 fears he is pursued by Iraqi Secret Service but, in fact, is abducted from Dr Wolf’s house by CIA agents, including Leslie, who sets up on one to make a video confirming his initial information. He has promised all kinds of benefits by the Americans.

The film includes: Powell’s speech at the United Nations, quoting the source identifying the information about the weapons. This is all false and power later admitted that it was.

Yet, as the film shows at the end, German authorities concurred in the invasion, Dr Wolf is faced with issues of truth and expediency, and there are scenes of the night bombardment of Baghdad.

A reminder of the seriousness of the false information and its consequences – and the fact that so much was made of information from one man, justifying the touch of the farcical.

1. The title? The alias for the whistleblower? Baseball reference, the US? The jokey touch?

2. A true story – “unfortunately�? The German interpretation of the characters, events, participation in the invasion of Iraq?

3. The comment on truth, lies, credulity, Fake News, the way Fake News was used?

4. Introduction to Dr Wolf and Leslie, their work in Iraq, weapons of destruction, his biochemical expertise? The relationship, separation?

5. The time outline: 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003? Audience awareness of the events of the time, 9/11? The aftermath? US politics, the Bush administration, the explanations and diagrams for anthrax? Produced in trucks? Wolf and his work and investigations? The explanation of the effect and kill potential of anthrax?

6. The whistleblower , Rafid Alwan, from Iraq, against Saddam Hussein? His defection, seeking asylum, wanting a German passport? His information, weapons of mass
destruction? The anthrax trucks, production, on the move? His sketch and diagram, the CIA taking it, using it, the foundation for the UN speech and the invasion?

7. Dr Wolf, his skills, work, the authorities, the meeting, the political implications of who was responsible? Schatz his wanting Wolf to interrogate Rafid? Schatz’s strong minded, determined? The commission? Wolf and the interrogation, his sceptic approach, the interrogations, getting to know him, friendly connections, the sled…? His wanting the truth? Believing the Rafid ’s claims?

8. Rafid , plausibility, his descriptions, his motivation, the passport, persuasive? His being exposed? Schatz and his using him? Wolf being sacked? No official documentation on the issue?

9. Wolf and Rafid , the friendship, the visits, his fears, flight, staying with Dr Wolf? Meeting Meg? Her irritation with her father?

10. The visuals of 9/11, the fire clouds in the street? President Bush, his speech, acclaim? His military advisers?

11. Wolf and Leslie, his wanting the anthrax test, her refusing, to save her job? The later irony of the contact, the using Rafid ?

12. Rafid , Iraq, his fear of the Iraqi Secret Service, with Wolf, his abduction, the irony that was the CIA, Wolf following, the car, the snow? His climbing up the hill and discovering the centre?

13. Leslie, in charge, CIA background, no scruple, taking Rafid , preparing the video, the setup, the images of Baghdad, the prepared script, his saying it was not true, the blandishments for his living in the US and denouncing Saddam Hussein?

14. His escape, with Wolf, the sled and the downhill escape, the car?

15. The CIA, Leslie using the diagram, sending it to Washington? The recreation of the diagram, illustration with the colours and the trucks, the process? CIA and any means for the end?

16. Colin Powell’s speech to the United Nations, the impact within this film? His knowledge of the truth about weapons of mass destruction?

17. Wolf, his disgust at the broadcasting about the fake News? German knowledge at the UN? The later intimation of the President of the Republic and his involvement?

18. Wolf, his visit to Schatz, the discussion, the truth, peace and war, keeping Germany out of the war?

19. The visuals of the invasion of Baghdad, under fire? And the statistics about those who have died?