The Situation

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The Situation

R

2006

1h 46m

Drama

War

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

35%

Tomatometer

48 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Anna (Connie Nielsen) is an American journalist who's falling in love with Iraqi photographer Zaid (Mido Hamada) against the backdrop of the war in Iraq. She's also ending a secret affair with Dan (Damian Lewis), an intelligence officer in Baghdad. The dangers of wartime Iraq heighten everyone's emotions, and the love triangle creates further stress when one of Anna's friends is killed, and Anna is kidnapped. Zaid and Dan must get together to rescue Anna before it's too late.

Critics Consensus

An ambitious but preachy drama that fails to convincingly parcel its thriller and romance elements.

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Sandy MacDonald

Boston Globe

The concept is strong and expertly fleshed out; it's just a pity that Hollywood tropes are allowed to invade.

Rated: 2/4

Apr 13, 2007

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John Monaghan

Detroit Free Press

Beneath the melodrama is an insider's account of the seemingly inconsequential details often edited out of dispatches from the front.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 13, 2007

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Tom Long

Detroit News

The essential message in this strongly felt film comes clear: 'It's Iraq.' It used to be bad, but now it's worse. And anyone in his right mind, including Iraqis, wants to get out.

Rated: B

Apr 13, 2007

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Dorothy Woodend

The Tyee (British Columbia)

The film takes place in current day Iraq (although it was primarily filmed in Morocco) and it makes everybody out to be pathetic. And while this is a major problem, it is not even the film's greatest flaw.

Aug 23, 2017

Full Review

Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone

TheMovieChicks.com

I don't think this movie sheds any new light on 'the situation', but it could have, and it's a shame that it didn't.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jul 9, 2007

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Jeff Vice

Deseret News (Salt Lake City)

A pretty lousy movie in general, though it's the film's somewhat accusatory Iraq War subject matter that's getting it some attention -- deserved or not -- that makes the whole thing a little distasteful.

Rated: 2/4

Apr 27, 2007

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Audience Member

I found the movie to be interesting. If you are closed minded, you will not like this movie. To me it showed what I already knew: no matter your race or religion, there are bad guys and good guys on both sides. I felt that this movie showed both. Excellent acting from most. Well done, and rarely dull...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

unfortunate when at war it is difficult to trust even your own, no matter where you are germany / vienam / irak /it is all the same. this movie is a good example.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Audience Member

I had no expectations going in, but this film kicked my ass. Loved it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

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Audience Member

I liked it, although the plot is not witout errors, the film as a whole was well shot. Brutal!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

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Audience Member

A much better movie than the description leads you to believe...once again nothing is black and white, more enlightening than entertaining

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

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Audience Member

A unique drama with a couple of flaws... the characters are not well built up... the story is pretty boring... and some of the story get overshadowed by the other story, but atleast worth watching once 6 out of 10

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

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Philip Haas

Director

Connie Nielsen

Anna

Damian Lewis

Dan

Mido Hamada

Zaid

Driss Roukhe

Walid

Nasser Memarzia

Rafeeq

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Synopsis

Anna (Connie Nielsen) is an American journalist who's falling in love with Iraqi photographer Zaid (Mido Hamada) against the backdrop of the war in Iraq. She's also ending a secret affair with Dan (Damian Lewis), an intelligence officer in Baghdad. The dangers of wartime Iraq heighten everyone's emotions, and the love triangle creates further stress when one of Anna's friends is killed, and Anna is kidnapped. Zaid and Dan must get together to rescue Anna before it's too late.

Director: Philip Haas
Screenwriter: Wendell Steavenson
Rating: R (A Scene of Sexuality|Violence|Language)
Genre: Drama, War
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Jul 31, 2007
Box Office (Gross USA): $48.1K
Runtime: 1h 46m