Curveball — A True Story, Unfortunately

A sharply written and bitterly funny political satire from Germany based on an obscure true story that became one of the main catalysts for the Iraq War. Hapless bioweapons expert Wolf is obsessed with the idea that Iraq is producing anthrax. His superior assigns him as case officer for Iraqi asylum seeker Rafid Alwan who claims to have worked for Saddam Hussein’s bioweapons programme. Despite the shaky provenance, Rafid, nicknamed ‘Curveball’ becomes a valuable asset in an increasingly absurd chain of events driven by political advantage rather than the truth.

‘The BND [German Secret Service]’s story is very much about inferiority complexes in regard to the CIA and the other secret services. During the Cold War, the BND was always the lousiest of them all. The CIA and the others could do things that were beyond the norm, but the BND had strict rules about acting in accordance with German laws. They also had bad budgets and didn’t have great recruits. It was never cool to work for the BND. I can’t think of a single one of the famous spy films or books where they are mentioned…To be true to the story and then not to bore the audience is my aim – that and making the world a better place.’

Johannes Naber, Director