Where is Raed? Baghdad Blog to become a film

Guardian News co uk12pm

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Baghdad Blog to become a film

Ben Dowell
Wednesday May 24, 2006

The Baghdad Blog, the daily dispatches penned by the Iraqi architect known as Salam Pax, is to be turned into a film.
FilmFour will co-produce the big-screen version of the acclaimed blog written by Pax, which chronicled life during and after the allied invasion.

Salam Pax is the pseudonym of the 20-something from Iraq whose online diary Where is Raed? received huge media attention and a loyal, worldwide readership after it appeared on the web in 2003.

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Where is Raed? was serialised in the Guardian and subsequently turned into a bestselling book.
The blog contained warm and often hilarious accounts of everyday life under Saddam's dictatorship, describing run-ins with the secret police, bootleg record shopping, being on the receiving end of US "shock and awe" tactics and detailing the best place to buy a smoothie in post-invasion Baghdad.

Marc Evans, the director of films My Little Eye and Snowcake, will direct the film with a script from Ross Klavan, co-author of the Joel Schumacher film Tigerland.

Co-produced by FilmFour and the film company Intermedia, filming is expected to begin in the autumn.

Mr Evans said: "Insider war stories are so often about the combatants. Salam's account is uniquely different. It is about what it's like to have war arrive on your doorstep. How he keeps his sense of humour throughout what he calls the 'liber-vasion' of Baghdad is a miracle in itself.

"Or maybe it's his sense of humour that allows him to keep his sanity. Either way, it makes for very inspiring material and a fantastic opportunity - and challenge - for us as film-makers."

Katherine Butler, the head of development at FilmFour, said: "It's fantastic to find a script which takes you into the heart of war-torn Baghdad from the inside, written with such searing black humour, and giving an extraordinary, unique insight into youth culture Baghdad-style.

"Marc's energy, humanity and vision will bring this hilarious and deeply moving story to life."

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