GlobeScreen Auditoriums has acquired the French rights to “Blix Not Bombs”, a documentary about former UN weapons inspector Hans Blix, who was tasked with searching for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq in the run-up to the US invasion of the country 20 years ago.
The deal was brokered by Toronto-based sales agent Syndicado Film Sales, who also serves as an executive producer on the film.
The film had its world premiere at the Copenhagen documentary festival CPH:DOX on Monday, the anniversary of the invasion.
In the film, Czech-Swedish filmmaker Greta Stocklassa interviews the Swedish diplomat, now 94, about what happened in the months leading up to the war. He describes his meetings with George W. Bush and Tony Blair, his frustration when Colin Powell gave his landmark speech to the UN Security Council, and his feeling of emptiness when the United States began the invasion, despite his information. that his team had found no weapons. of mass destruction in Iraq.
Blix also argues that the Iraq War triggered a butterfly effect: the invasion led to the overthrow of the Iraqi regime and the break-up of the Iraqi military, which led to the rise of the Islamic State and the crisis. subsequent immigration to Europe. . In reaction to this, a wave of far-right populists such as Marie Le Pen, Geert Wilders and others arose, destabilizing governments across Europe.
In a statement, the director said: “The person of Blix embodies the clash between high politics, world-class events and the peaceful days of old age, with the slow wait for the impending end. Blending the methods of comprehensive interview and observation of Blix’s personal life situations, we paint a complex portrait of an aging diplomat and a man ready to leave this world. But the main question we discuss is universal: where is our personal responsibility for humanity and for the world?
Stocklassa studied documentary cinema at FAMU in Prague. His first feature documentary “Kiruna – A Brand New World” premiered at Visions du Réel in 2019 and won the main student jury prize at Finále Plzeň.
“Blix Not Bombs” was produced by Radovan Síbrt at Pink Productions in the Czech Republic. The co-producers are Erik Winker for CORSO Film in Germany and Mario Adamson for Sisyfos Film Production in Sweden.
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