Remembering Saddam is a documentary by Don North, a television news producer.
The film follows the story of nine Iraqi businessmen who were arrested in 1995 by Saddam Hussein's regime which was notorious for human rights abuses. They were charged with dealing in foreign currency and imprisoned in Abu Ghraib prison. After a short trial with no defense representation, they were sentenced to amputation of their right hands. The amputation was videotaped and used by Saddam Hussein as a deterrent to other would-be criminals. An "X of shame" was also carved into the foreheads of each man by the surgeons.
After the 2003 invasion of Iraq, North tracked down the nine men; seven of them (one was deceased) agreed to tell their stories. The documentary follows their story as organizations are lined up to donate surgical services, transportation and prosthetic limbs. Transportation was provided by Continental Airlines. Dr. Agris and Dr. Kestler of Houston donated their time. Medical facilities were provided by Methodist Hospital in Houston. The prosthetic hands which normally cost $50,000 each were donated by Otto Bock, a German-American company. The gruesome footage of their amputations performed by doctors in the employ of Saddam Hussein is presented in increments as the documentary unfolds. The "Xs of shame" on every man's forehead were also removed.
As of May 2004, Remembering Saddam is not scheduled for broadcast because North has yet to find a network willing to broadcast it.
Famous quotes containing the words remembering and/or saddam:
“The happiest two-job marriages I saw during my research were ones in which men and women shared the housework and parenting. What couples called good communication often meant that they were good at saying thanks to one another for small aspects of taking care of the family. Making it to the school play, helping a child read, cooking dinner in good spirit, remembering the grocery list,... these were silver and gold of the marital exchange.”
—Arlie Hochschild (20th century)
“There’s no telling what might have happened to our defense budget if Saddam Hussein hadn’t invaded Kuwait that August and set everyone gearing up for World War II½. Can we count on Saddam Hussein to come along every year and resolve our defense-policy debates? Given the history of the Middle East, it’s possible.”
—P.J. (Patrick Jake)