Recently I had the opportunity to view the movie “The Kingdom” which is banned in Saudi Arabia as well as nearby Bahrain. This movie is about a well-planned orchestrated and effective terrorist attack which takes place on a Western compound in Riyadh. The movie opens up showing the Westerners enjoying typical daily life with a baseball game in progress. The characters who play significant roles from the USA are also introduced shown performing their typical and routine day. And of course the camera will segue to the terrorists who lay in waiting with weapons –and- camera ready to document the devastation that is about to take place.
The movie then moves right into the attack and typical of Al Qaida operandi, there is a primary and secondary attack planned to have the highest number of fatalities. I will not go into the details of these attacks for those of you who want some surprises left when viewing the movie. Confusion, grief and anger follow the attacks. The US based officials are notified of the attacks and emergency planning meetings take place. Disagreements arise between State Department, FBI, the US Attorney General and other agencies on what actions should be taken. The FBI pushes hard for the opportunity to send a rapid deployment team to Riyadh to conduct an investigation noting that the first 36 hours are the most critical.
State Department (and other agencies) remain adamant that due to the importance of the US-Saudi relationship and not wishing to ignite further incidents in the Kingdom there should be no investigative team sent from the USA. However the lead FBI agent in the movie does not accept this decision. Taking matters into his own hands he meets with an influential American reporter who through the information he provided to her, facilitates an opportunity for the FBI agent to have a “planned” encounter with the Saudi ambassador to the US. They meet, the FBI agent passes along some words of what kind of consequences may result if an FBI team is not allowed immediate clearance to Riyadh. In the next few hours the team is aboard a military aircraft enroute to Prince Sultan Air base outside of Riyadh. The team is comprised of the lead African American male agent, two additional male agents and one female agent each with separate areas of expertise.
While the team received approval from the Saudis to come to the Kingdom that does not equate to a warm welcome where they were given carte blanche and immediate access to the scene. They are greeted with reservation and taken immediately to an area where they are informed they’ll be secure and to await further instructions from their Saudi counterparts. Concurrently there is also dissent among the Saudi officials associated with the investigation in the National Guard and police services who provided the security to the compound for it was also clear that the incident would not have occurred without “insider collaboration.”
Fast-forwarding eventually the FBI team begins to win trust and confidence of the Saudi officials and allowed greater access and freedom to conduct their investigation. The lead agent learned to ensure that the Saudi leading their team should always receive the credit for any key evidence discovered. The clues they uncover allow them to know how the explosive devices made their way onto the compound, what was used in the creation of the explosive devices, who assisted in penetrating the compound and ultimately what individual was the ringleader of the incident.
The movie concludes with two “shoot ‘em out” scenes. The FBI/Saudi team first go to a building where they learned weapons were stashed and those in the building were planning additional acts of violence. There is a successful raid and the FBI team are informed by a US embassy representative that their work in Riyadh is concluded and they will now be taken directly to the airport. Enroute to the airport there is another planned incident on the part of the terrorists and the final scene enfolds with shots exchanged and a fast chase scene leading them to the heart of the insurgent network in Riyadh. The “bad guys” are killed but at the same time, the lead Saudi who befriended the Americans loses his life.
The movie is typical of the American “feel good/action movies” and it should be viewed in this manner. Saudi Arabia and its ability to investigate acts of terror are not depicted in a positive or realistic light. The movie makes the Saudis appear as careless and lackadaisical in their efforts or desire to conduct an adequate investigation. The lead Prince with oversight of the investigation is shown as someone more sensitive to having the right image, ensuring the right words are said to the media and spending more time hunting with his prized falcons.
In sum, the movie makes the FBI look like the good guys and saviors who come to rescue the Saudis in their poor attempts to undertake an investigation and apprehend the terrorists who are focused on targeting the Americans in the Kingdom.
Filed under: America, culture, gender, islam, politics, religion, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, terrorism, Uncategorized
I have not seen this movie, although I remember seeing a trailer for it.
I do have a question, if you feel comfortable answering, how were you able to see it?
Thank you for describing the movie; now I don’t have to go and see it.
Sounds fairly typical fare. The group of straight-laced noble american warriors doing a difficult job. The obligatory female adjuct, if in overall; an unusally well tailored one, just a bit to tight on the strategic points. The careless foreigners who will come to grips and eventually see the american light. The evil guys who are just plain, simply, Evil. Some fighting, blood and gore. The evil people not leaving well alone, more fighting blood and gore; good wins, evil loses. Some of the good guys get wounded, the noble foreign hero gets it in the neck. (They álways snuff it at the end of the movie. I wouldn’t want to play one.)
So, yeah, what did you do? Travel to Dubai to get this banned piece of politically explosive example of american culture, put it at the bottom of your suitcase, cleverly disguised as a Gordon Ramsay-compilation, and then play it in the darkened, sound-proofed innards of your basement?
Mrs Quigs, Aafke,
Thanks for your comments. I’d rather not go into any details on when or where I saw it but next on my list of hopefully getting the chance to see will be “Charlie Wilson’s War” which I believe is playing in Bahrain!
American Bedu: No, really, is it that serious?
It’s not as if this actually sounds as an original storyline. In my opinion they only use about 6 different story-lines in Hollywood, they do this one wherever the Americans go to a warzone or politically inflammable country.
It’s not my favorite.
I like: ”The Small American Town going to be Wiped out by Some Sort of Disaster”
Yes; I agree with that perspective! So many movies are predictable…I hate that!
“Charlie Wilson’s War” I’ve seen it – not worth it. In short – America saved the World. Again. The End.
Ehh, we always have lots of fun watching the ”Disaster” movies: ”There’s the sheriff, who may, or may not, side up with the visiting scientist who’s going to get hitched with the one desirable single in town!”
And: ”There’s the pregnant woman who’s going to pop at the most inconvinient moment, next to the mayor who’s going to ignore all the warnings due to the annual festival coming up, and the wife-basher who’s going to be the next one getting eaten/melted/converted” etc. LOL
Assalaamu alaykum Carol!
I heard about this movie and wondered how Hollywood would portray Saudis. Yes, so typical of many American movies (bubble-gum cinema)- the happy ending and feel-good factor; that is so not “art imitating life”
I still want to see it though out of curiosity.
Carol, I added you to my blogroll; I hope that is OK ( I don’t know why but I just like to let people know I’m doing that).
Take care!
Salam Alaikum Aliyah, Hi Aafke,
I hope that Saudi Arabia would produce its own version of a ‘Kingdom’ type movie. In fact, I’d like to see more Saudi produced english language movies or even arabic with english subtitles!
Thanks for adding me to your blogroll, Aliyah. I’m honored!
I wish you would have asked for my Guide to Viewing the Kingdom before you saw the movie. Back in October, when I first saw the movie, I wrote (on a different site) the following:
If you haven’t seen the movie, The Kingdom, about Saudi Arabia and the FBI team that travels there to solve a crime (suicide bombing) and to get the terrorists, then please read this first:
1. Arabs maybe intelligent but the American FBI are more intelligent, observant and capable.
2. FBI members can threaten Foreign officials and get rough with them. And get away with it. We’re bad!
3. Foreign officials succumb to FBI demands. Very “real-life”
4. An American actor – or actors – is always the hero. S/he does not get killed or die and always dodges bullets, rockets and anything thrown at him/her.
5. It takes the FBI to collect – from a scene of a suicide bomber; from bodies even – the pieces that will almost form a complete marble.
6. Non-American heroes always die. They have to!
7. Under incredibly stressful situations, an American FBI agent finds a way out. Regardless of the situation.
8. A female American FBI hero can ALWAYS collect herself and comfort a child even when her life is threatened.
9. No. 9 leads to the incredible discovery of a life time. The terrorist leader!
10. All FBI heroes return home – safe, sound and clean.
The film was very educational also:
1. The movie shows how the FBI “observes” the Saudi army/ police taking time to pray!
2. The Saudis are very pro American. They are our allies.
3. The Saudi prince always travels with special guards and special media team. His photo and video must always be recorded.
4. There are 5,000 princes living in Saudi Arabia – I may have gotten the number wrong. Was it 50,000?
5. How many virgins does one “get” upon entering heaven? The answer given by an FBI member was 70! The person who asked said: Wrong! No explanation given.
6. OK, so I lied – number 5 was not that educational.
7. If the FBI was allowed to travel to Afghanistan, I bet you they will also find Bin Laden. Hidden message!
8. The FBI internal affairs are corrupt.
9. Only the FBI will kill all terrorists.
10. The terrorists son “learned” from dying father that they will also kill “all of them” – us?
And you thought Hollywood was a waste of time!
ATW
I think the summary of the last commenter has been quite to the point.
I have personally seen the movie, and, (in my twisted way of analyzing and concluding perhaps), I have seen yet another “subtle” but indeed creative way of sending a message, which quite frankly disturbed me.
Allow me to explain first:
Fundamental Islam is by westerners who are being brainwashed through the media seen as radical and extreme, which immediately equals terrorism. However, fundamentalism of any other faith, land, etc, is never portrayed in the same manner, rather, quite the opposite. “Modern” Islam and muslims are portrayed as people who follow “the modern version” of Islam, and this type of muslims are “OK”. However, this type of Muslims “do not follow the fundamental message of the Qur’an and their Prophet”, which makes “Islam in its’ original version the religion of evil”. Please note that everything in apostrophies are not my words, it is only thoughts and views of most non-Muslims.
Back to the “subtle, hidden message” in the movie:
If you have noticed, when the FBI agents come to interview the man whose wife was killed, the man begins adressing the muslim cop saying “is this what your Prophet teaches you? Is this what Allah wants? Does Allah loves your wife and children more then He loves mine?” (Not an exact quote). Ok, now this can be understood in two different ways: either that the man is “teaching” the muslim that this is NOT what Allah and our Prophet want, or that this is his (as well as many other non-Muslims) opinion of the teachings of Islam.
Further, I could not help but notice that the “good muslims” are portrayed as “modern”-thus not following the “true” Islam in its’ totality. This can be concluded from the scene in which the female FBI agent extends her hand to the “good muslim cop” before leaving Saudi, and he instead of objecting shakes her hand.
Just my, well, 50 cents (my comment was a bit long, sorry, smile).
Just watched it last night.
Felt the same way.
Well written.Keep it up
I am thoroughly enjoying everyones comments and views.
The movie does raise questions on how the FBI is perceived by Saudis and vice versa as well as ATW points out the perceptions of Islam and how understanding of Islam is portrayed in the film.
While I do not recommend the movie for its viewing pleasure I am happy I saw it to see how the Kingdom was portrayed from the American perspective…although “Saudi consultants” were on scene throughout the filming of the movie providing advise and guidance.
Krisk — thank you and welcome to my blog.
Regards,
Carol
Thanks everybody for their comments and analysis of the movie. I’m sure I’m not going to miss anything by not wartching it
Acually I know I’m going to be very irritated if I dó watch it.
All foreigners always die, also the ones with english accents. It is inevitable. They are redshirts.
Coming from the misinformed West (though not America) I would like to add that we mostly think that those muslims who follow the true teachings of Islam can never be terrorists.
And the word ”fundamentalism” at least in the Dutch language is always used, and has therefore the meaning of: religion (which ever) being twisted and abused. With the disregard of its original teachings. So if we say ”fundamentalist” we don’t mean some one who follows the fundaments of religion, but who twists those fundaments in an evil way.
What both appals and saddens me is how easily the terms “islamic terrorists” and “islamic fundamentalists” are bandied around.
I think reporters are very careless, both with their facts, and their use of language. The same word might have a completely different content in different languages. Or even groups of people.
delhi.
Regarding your last comment: right on. Not only that, but if you have seen the movie Charlie Wilson’s War (Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts), you will notice a most interesting opening. The shadow of a “Muslim” praying.. and supplicating.. then as soon as he’s done, he picks up his shoulder-mount Stinger and fires it… towards the audience. I do not believe anything “introduced” by Hollywood is “innocent” or unintentional: this, in my opinion, was done to keep the average person thinking that “Muslims are violent” by nature! And the word Moujahedeen was translated as “Holy Warriors” and in those days, as in most news reports, Moujahedeen was always associated with Freedom Fighters!
Regardless, it was a much better movie and portrayed USA’s failure: that the United States walked away from Afghanistan after the Soviets were driven out. The US then refused to provide vital educational and developmental aid to the new government which eventually was replaced by the extremist Taliban.
ATW
Thnks for the post delhi4cats
i saw so many documentaries that are suppose to be factual showing Saudi in 10 times worst light than this movie.
About the kingdom movie, i saw it not so long ago and before hand never really expected it to be factual, And in defense of the movie why did anyone expect the movie to portray Saudis correctly, they were never given permission to film here nor any of the cast is Saudi and its a Hollywood film, but yet they still showed that even tho we are so different we actually are exactly the same, we both have families like when they showed the colonel and his kids, and the last few lines were they reveal what both the terrorist and the FBI agent said by promising to kill them all.
And probably at least some who watched the film will go back home and look up more about Saudi and that is a good thing.
And i did see “Charlie Wilson’s War”, and its a great film.. you should download it if u cant get hold of a copy.
Aafke,
I agree in the sense that the written word can be a very powerful tool with the ability to influence.
ATW: We are in complete agreement. Psyop (psychological campaigns) are also about the use of choice words and use of graphics and images to win, influence and/or change.
ATW, Mohammed: I read the book “Charlie Wilson’s War” and thoroughly enjoyed it, particularly after having served in that part of the world.
Mohammed – I like your point in regards to the similarities in the film as well. Those are key aspects to raise. However I believe that many Americans when viewing the Kingdom will come away with the perspective that it is a place of violence, unrest and fanaticism against the West, especially if they are not familar with the Kingdom and rely solely on the press and Hollywood!
This documentary was on Dutch tv a while ago; its is about working women in KSA.
I thought it quite interesting, but it also left a lot unanswered. It’s quite long and good quality for You-tube (I’m sending the you-tube link rather than a dutch tv link because it’s in english) so I don’t know if you can watch it at all, considering your internet connections, but I would love to know what you think about it. If you have the time.
Thank you — I’ll have to let you know if I (and others) are able to view it.
Current movies always find their way into the general public….just ask your friends.
You’re right Miriam…movies one may not expect to see will find their way here…
Carol,
I hope you do not mind me posting the following link, if so feel free of course to delete it. It is a link to my one of my blogs where I had long ago posted a very interesting article titled “Nomenclature of deception”.
I would like to share it with everyone here insha’Allah, jazakum Allah khayr.
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-1i6Q1fU8fqW7DAPRwFmXXb8-?cq=1&l=61&u=65&mx=100&lmt=5
Dalioness, I’ve no objection. Share the knowledge is my belief.
Some people here in Saudi may feel offended by the movie which is weird, I don’t find the movie offending at all, yea it show the police careless and lazy but it’s true, I’ve been into police station many times for issues demanded their servie and seen alot worst than you imagine for example a syrian guy who spent hours between policemen skipping job, the guy yelled loud ” My Daughter is kidnapped and no one cares”. I spent alot of hours just to finish really simple stupid stuff in police . And btw I wish we have a prince like on TV , did you see how the real ones talk ?! lol
I can see how some in the Kingdom would be offended. For example the Saudi special forces and national guard have made significant inroads internally on the “War Against Terror” yet the movie depicts carelessness and a nonchalant attitude. The Prince in the movie is also shown as one more focused on himself, entertaining and public images. But again, we have to remember, it is just a movie. My hope is that maybe the reaction to the Kingdom would spur the Kingdom towards making some of its own movies.
I will agree that the police here though should be improved. If you do a search on my blog for “estraha” I wrote earlier how an estraha owned by friends of ours was broken into — while they were therer — and the police never responded to calls.
I’ve just returned from Khobar, KSA. Quite Interesting for an American, making his first trip to the Kingdom. It’s most difficult to describe to Westerners….you just don’t understand until you’ve been there, done that, so to speak.
After one gets over the initial culture shock, then you start seeing a Saudi Arabia with a different perspective. At first, I could not understand how, why expratriates spend years over there working, but after a while, it’s not as bad as it first appears.
Hi Mike,
Welcome to my blog and thanks for your comments. I’d also like to add that each area and city, town, village of the Kingdom is also unique from one another which further adds to the diverse experiences.
Depending on where you were in Khobar, in some cases you may feel like you are in a mini-USA within a vast desert!