Dizi Planet
Backstabbing for Beginners (Komplo)

Backstabbing for Beginners (Komplo)

Movie · 2018 · 15 people

Danish director Per Fly directed the 2018 political thriller Komplo, known in English as Backstabbing for Beginners. The English-language co-production of Denmark, the United States and Canada tackles a real corruption scandal: the United Nations' Oil-for-Food Programme for Iraq. It is based on the memoirs of Michael Soussan, and Fly wrote the screenplay with Daniel Pyne. It opened in Denmark on 18 January 2018, in the United States on 27 April 2018 and in Turkey on 7 September 2018.

Michael, a young UN representative, has always wanted to be a diplomat and dreams of making the world a better place and strengthening peace. His new assignment is to raise donations for the Oil-for-Food Programme. His mentor Pasha, who heads the programme, takes him to Iraq so he can watch it closely. There Michael realises that corruption lies beneath the apparently charitable campaign. He must decide how to respond to a scheme tied to Iraq's oil reserves, facing diplomacy's dark side.

Theo James and Oscar-winner Ben Kingsley lead the cast; James is known for the Divergent series. Turkish actress Belçim Bilgin, Jacqueline Bisset, Rossif Sutherland, Rachel Wilson and Brian Markinson also appear. Sources give its running time as either 90 or 108 minutes.

DirectorPer Fly

Reactions

You can pick up to 3 reactions.

Cast

Names without a link have no profile here yet.

Belçim Bilgin Belçim Bilgin Actor · 43 years old Nashim Ben Kingsley Theo James Jacqueline Bisset David Dencik Rachel Wilson Brian Markinson Rossif Sutherland Shauna MacDonald Daniela Lavender Aidan Devine George W. Bush Kardo Razzazi Peshang Rad Saddam Hüseyin

Through different eyes

History & Society Lens Asks about the period, the social background and what the work reflects.

Backstabbing for Beginners tells the real corruption scandal of the United Nations' Oil-for-Food Programme for Iraq, working from Michael Soussan's memoirs. That choice is a reminder that international aid is not only about doing good but also a vast arena of power and interests. The film's value lies in showing how institutions work through the eyes of an idealistic young diplomat. At the same time, relying on one person's memoirs risks reducing a complex scandal to a story of personal awakening. A good way into the subject, but it shouldn't be the only source.

Cinephile Looks at script, editing and directing choices; keeps a distance from formula films.

Per Fly, writing with Daniel Pyne, follows a well-worn political thriller template: an innocent idealist enters the system and discovers the rot. The structure guides the audience easily but also limits surprises from the outset. The axis that has to carry the film's dramatic weight is the relationship between the mentor Pasha and young Michael; the script's real test is whether it can turn that relationship into more than a lesson. Being an English-language co-production of Denmark, the United States and Canada gives it an international scale. The result is a well-built film on an important subject that never pushes the genre's limits; too cautious to sit beside the political thriller classics.

Action & Thriller Fan Puts pace, tension and set pieces first; little patience for slow drama.

It's labelled a political thriller, but anyone expecting action may be let down. Films about corruption scandals usually build their tension around the negotiating table, and this one hangs its stakes on the question of which side a young diplomat will choose. If you have patience for slow, talk-heavy thrillers, give it a go. Otherwise the pace may feel too slow.

These are not reader reviews: they are short editorial takes written from different viewer perspectives with AI assistance. Reader reviews are below.

Reviews (0)

Log in Log in to write a review.

Comments