Director who went undercover as a jihadist jokes he should be up for best actor as well as best documentary

Record ID: 1396945

  • Title: Director who went undercover as a jihadist jokes he should be up for best actor as well as best documentary
  • Date: 23rd February 2019
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 14, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) TALAL DERKI, DIRECTOR OF 'OF FATHERS AND SONS,' SAYING: "For me, it's the worst way to suicide, for me to go now because in both areas, they want my name. In the government and in the opposition area, I am not welcome. Not only I'm not welcome, there are people will catch me in the f
  • Embargoed: 9th March 2019 03:25
  • Keywords: Academy Awards Oscars Of Fathers and Sons Talal Derki documentary Syria
  • Location: UNIDENTIFIED FILMING LOCATIONS/LOS ANGELES AND BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
  • City: UNIDENTIFIED FILMING LOCATIONS/LOS ANGELES AND BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Film
  • Reuters ID: LVA005A2TWBPJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Documentary filmmaker Talal Derki spent two and a half years living with a jihadist fighter from the Nusra Front, formerly the Syrian branch of al Qaeda, to make his Oscar-nominated film 'Of Fathers and Sons'.
    The documentary tells the story of jihadist Abu Osama and his two eldest sons, who he sends to a training camp for young fighters.
    Derki, an atheist, gained the trust of his subject by pretending to be a jihadist himself. Any crack in his cover might have exposed him and risked his life.
    "I should be not only nominated to the best documentary, I should be nominated for best actor," Derki joked. "Two and a half years playing this role and there is no possibility to make any mistake. Mistakes cost you your life."
    Derki, who now lives in Germany, knows he will never return to his homeland.
    "For me, it's the worst way to suicide, for me to go now because in both areas, they want my name. In the government and in the opposition area, I am not welcome. Not only I'm not welcome, there are people who catch me in the first hour. So, for me, Syria, in this time, the land is not a home, because home is where you feel safe. My home is Germany now."
    The Oscars will be handed out on Feb. 24 at a ceremony in Hollywood.
    Disclaimer: Talal Derki contributed video of news coverage in Syria to Reuters between 2011-2012.
    (Production: Jane Ross, Alan Devall)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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