A leading cast including Kenneth Branagh, Juliet Stevenson, Stephen Rea, Art Malik and Toby Jones feature in an innovative series of eight short dramas to mark the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Each day, the drama focuses on a real event that happened exactly five years ago to the day.
In March 2003, war with Iraq was imminent, its justification and legality disputed. 10 Days To War tells the story of the countdown to the war and the lead up to military action. The series is written by Ronan Bennett (Hamburg Cell, Face) and is a collaboration between BBC Vision and BBC News.
Monday’s A Simple Private Matter stars Juliet Stevenson and Kate Ashfield in a behind-the-scenes drama set in the Foreign Office. While Prime Minister Tony Blair faces a TV grilling by a group of anti-war women, one of the Government’s senior lawyers faces a crisis of conscience.
In Tuesday’s $100 Coffee, there are just nine days left until the invasion begins. The hills of Northern Iraq host a coalition of religious, political and military leaders discussing how they will run the country in the aftermath of war. The cast includes Toby Jones, Art Malik and Igal Naor.
Wednesday’s These Things Are Always Chaos stars Stephen Rea as General Tim Cross. For weeks, he has been the British deputy at the US-led Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Aid (ORHA) in Washington. The plans for post-war reconstruction are in a mess and he fears a disaster is looming.
In Thursday’s Why This Rush, the British and Americans are intensely lobbying for a second resolution that will authorise war. Patrick Malahide and Tom Conti feature in the story of a diplomatic poker game.
In Friday’s Blowback, war is less than a week away but a battle is being fought for the streets. This is the gripping story of a community fighting back against radical Islamists recruiting young men for jihad. The cast will be confirmed closer to transmission.
Monday 10 to Friday 14 March
10.30-10.45pm BBC TWO
Post a Comment