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Conspiracy, corruption, bravery and a dash of romance- don’t miss the new movie “Backstabbing For Beginners”

If you are looking for something new to watch on the big screen, “Backstabbing For Beginners” (“Dobbeltspil”) opens in cinemas across Denmark today. The political thriller is based on the memoirs of Michael Soussan, the whistleblower responsible for exposing the Oil for Food corruption scandal in the UN after he worked on the humanitarian aid program in the late 1990s.

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By Louise Chamberlain Pictures: SF PR/Brendan Stacey

As a young idealist, Michael (Theo James) applied for a job at the UN. He landed his dream job in the department responsible for implementing the newly created Oil For Food program providing aid to Iraqi civilians struggling under economic sanctions.

His boss, seasoned diplomat Pasha (Ben Kingsley), is the person he turns to for guidance, but can he trust him? In Baghdad, he finds chaos and corruption in the Iraqi political system has permeated the UN and risks it all to expose the truth.

Conspiracy, corruption, bravery and a dash of romance; “Backstabbing For Beginners” should be a box office hit. Ben Kingsley is magnificent as the charismatic but morally questionable Pasha but the Oscar winner does not overshadow the rest of the cast.

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The movie has strong Danish connections. It was directed by Dane Per Fly and the producers (Malene Blenkov, Lars Knudsen, Nikolaj Vibe Michelsen and Jay van Hoy) are also Danish.

Filming took place in Canada, Morocco and Denmark. Danish-born Soussan attended the glittering gala premiere in Copenhagen on Wednesday night alongside stars of the movie Theo James, Belçin Bilgin and Oscar winner Sir Ben Kingsley.