Watch The Prisoner or: How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair

The movie The Prisoner or: How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair from 2006 is a political thriller that centers around Yunis Khatayer Abbas, a young man from Iraq who finds himself falsely accused of crimes he did not commit. The film opens with a jarring sequence where Yunis is abruptly woken up in the middle of the night, dragged out of his bed by American soldiers and taken into custody. From here, the movie moves between flashbacks of Yunis' life in Iraq and his experiences as a prisoner, eventually culminating in his plan to assassinate former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Throughout the film, we see the dehumanizing treatment that Yunis and other prisoners endure. They are subjected to physical abuse and psychological torture, all while being held without charge in a facility that is little more than a concrete box. The oppressive atmosphere is conveyed through muted colors and close-up shots, juxtaposed with occasional moments of violence that erupt suddenly and violently.

As we learn more about Yunis' past, we see how his life has been shaped by the ups and downs of Iraq's political climate. He becomes disillusioned with Saddam Hussein's regime and embraces the American invasion, only to find himself treated with suspicion and cruelty by the very people he thought would liberate his country. It's a poignant commentary on the complex, often contradictory relationships between power, control and freedom.

In one particularly memorable scene, Yunis is put in a room with a fellow prisoner who has been beaten so badly that he's barely conscious. The two men sit in silence for a few agonizing moments, until the other prisoner suddenly looks up and says, "I hate Tony Blair." Yunis nods solemnly, recognizing that this is a sentiment that many Iraqis share.

While much of the film is bleak and oppressive, there are moments of wit and levity that help to break up the tension. Yunis' wry observations about his situation, as well as his defiant determination to survive, are both inspiring and heart-wrenching.

In addition, the film features some impressive performances from its cast, particularly Abbas, who manages to convey a wide range of emotions without ever speaking a word of English. He portrays Yunis as a complex, fully realized character, rather than as a mere symbol or vessel for political commentary.

Overall, The Prisoner or: How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged film that explores the human cost of modern warfare and the complicated ethics of political power. While it's not an easy watch, it's a rewarding one, and is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who sees it.